The Lombardi Law Firm Blog

August 21, 2010 - Iowa State Crash Reports - Fatal Car Accidents

August 20, 2010 - Iowa Car-Truck-Accidents Resulting In Injury

As of August 14, 2010 - This week's Iowa State Patrol Injury Reports for Injury Accidents

Eleven Amish Killed in Head-on Semi-Collision on Kentucky Highway

Should Blogging Be A Part of Iowa's Teen Driving Experience

Control the distractions and speed and the tree will not be a problem

Road Rage Starts Before You Put the Car in Gear

This collision took place a little while ago, but I saved the news article for today's safety post. He was 42 and she 36. Their 7-year-old daughter was home while they were out riding their tandem bike along a Texas roadway. A car came up from behind and struck them while riding on the shoulder of Texas State Highway 16 in Bexar County. The accident happened at around 10:45 a.m.. The pickup truck drug the bike 200 feet from where they collided.

The police didn’t suspect alcohol played any part. They say the driver lost control of his F-150 pickup truck before veering off the roadway onto the shoulder and then striking this mother and father.

And why were they out riding? Because several years ago they were involved in another accident; a head-on collision where they almost died, were severely injured and needed to keep in excellent physical condition. The workouts helped them physically and mentally I’m sure.

The legal issues, as well as the social issues are speed, lookout, driving with due care and being a distracted driver. What’s with not slowing down as driver’s approach a slower moving vehicle or in this case a bicyclist? I’ve noted a certain level of anger displayed by car and truck drivers toward those sharing the road on a bike. It’s not just foolishly ridiculous, it can be criminal. For a second forget the people on the bike and think of the child waiting at home. Some Iowans recently started a petition asking the legislature to prohibit bicyclists from riding on county roads during the harvest. With America trying to “Go Green” to save fuel and with the economy in the tank it’s difficult to support such a measure. I think what should happen, would include people putting down the digital distractions and paying attention to their driving.

How about the driver recently charged with playing a video game while allegedly driving with his knees.

Distracted Driving - Did a DUI by video really kill two people ...

By the way, these two people were wearing bike helmets and it didn’t save their lives. It’s pretty sad for the daughter.

I’ve been struck by a truck while riding a bike when training for a triathlon. Here is a video example of a small motorbike-car crash. It’s pretty graphic so avoid it if you’re easily bothered by such things. The second video is a bike rider not looking where he’s going and swerving into a car’s front fender. He was lucky he didn’t get run over after the first collision. Folks give the road rage a rest. Your attitude is set the minute you get into the car. So before you put it into gear, sit for a second, relax and leave whatever is bothering you out of the driver's seat. An angry driver does rash and stupid things.

When you're riding your bike to work, be prepared for the unexpected.

In an article in Here New Brunswick Urban Voice, called “Overcoming the fear of cycling”, Andrea Laltoo discusses being a bicycling commuter and the dangers often linked to habitual biking on the road with motor vehicles. Laltoo brings up the most asked question, "But isn't it dangerous?" which she answers “yes” but not for the obvious reasons most people assume. An obvious fact that bicyclists are not as protected as motor vehicles by seatbelts, airbags, and metal frame coverings, does cause bicycling to have a higher danger factor. Laltoo also considers:

“Cycling can even result in death (then again, so can eating a sandwich, if you choke). But is cycling along with traffic really as dangerous as our imaginations tell us "..." or is the fear of cycling an irrational phobia of stepping outside of our comfort zones?”

Laltoo then mentions another bicyclist advocate, Ken Kifer who has a website devoted to facts and details of bicyclist safety and lifestyles, as well as tips on bike safety in traffic, (see http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/traffic/index.htm). One of Kifer’s ideas is interesting to Laltoo, “most people are aware that flying is statistically safer than driving (when analyzing risk of fatality per passenger and per distance). Why, then, do we drive without giving a second thought to our safety and yet flinch at flying?” This idea of flying as more dangerous than driving may be described as what “Nancy S. Blum, a social worker with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, cites lack of control over the situation as the number one reason her patients fear flying.”

When it comes to car transportation, drivers are given many, many hours of training to be allowed to drive, as well as have direct control over the vehicle. As for biking, one has control over the moving object, but people are not given specific and detailed training on how to operate the bike and navigate the roads on the bike.

The real facts on bicyclist injuries on the road are not necessarily due to traffic, Laltoo cites “John Forester (founder of the Effective Cycling program)” who says, “50 per cent of cycling injuries and deaths were caused by cyclist error, compared with only 8 per cent caused by motorist error”. Though this does not take away the fact bicycling is still a safety risk, it is mostly through the control of the individual biker themselves. Laltoo promotes biking as a main form of transportation as it being safe, if one takes control over their biking skills and knowledge.

With more people wanting to save money and the environment, the bike becomes a good option for transportation. But with less than adequate skills, knowledge, and experience on a two-wheeled contraption, bikers may cause more harm to themselves than they realize if proper steps are not taken.

Keep this in mind the next time you hit the road on your bike. Where your helmet and if necessary a rear view mirror. I've been hit by a truck when training for a triathlon. Believe me it's not a pleasant experience. It was about mid-morning, time for the donut break when the approaching truck suddenly turned left right into my path. The rear duals didn’t look all that appealing, the passenger side of the cab uninviting so off I went trying to skirt along the front. He hit me directly in the center of the grill, sending me head-over-heels attempting a full gainer. I landed squarely on the high side of my butt. Days later it looked like I was carrying around a baseball in my back pocket. I broke no bones, chipped some teeth when I kissed the grill, and was plenty sore for weeks. The funniest part was when the cemetery manager straddled and asked if he could call someone for me. I gave him the law firm telephone number. On the way to the hospital I asked the ambulance attendant if I could use the phone. Calling my office, the secretary Julie told me the insurance company called in less than five minutes after the cemetery manager hung up. Never hit a guy who makes living as a personal injury lawyer. So now I get to honestly say I’m not an ambulance chaser, I’m always there before the ambulance.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - The problem with high standing SUV's.

Let us continue with the pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items. As I previously stated, there are so many of them just since the first of the year. Today we’ll look at one additional news item. This one provides a reason (cause) as to why pedestrians get struck so many times by SUV’s and then what can happen afterwards. First SUV’s have a lot of blind spots. They can have huge mirrors but still they are so big that the blind spots can have pedestrian’s not shown in the mirror’s view. That means that when you drive an SUV you have to double your caution to avoid killing someone. Hopefully by analyzing how pedestrians get into accidents with motor vehicles maybe you can avoid finding ourselves in this situation.

Brooklyn, New York – February 2009 – Vans can be a higher type of vehicle sitting high off of the ground. Radios play loud and drivers have so many distractions available to them that the incomprehensible can actually happen. That’s an important fact to know in comprehending this news item. Trust me when I say this. From NYC Manhattan, Uptown. Downtown. This is Manhattan I bring you 17 miles of unexplained driving in a mental fog:

“According to the New York Police Department, a pedestrian crossing a street in Corona, Queens early Wednesday instead wound up being struck by two vehicles and his body being dragged an astounding 17 miles to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.

At approximately 6 a.m., the man, who has not yet been identified, was struck by an SUV near Shea Stadium when attempting to cross 108th Street. Just seconds later, a dark colored van drove over the man, his body getting lodged in the vehicle’s undercarriage. According to investigators, the driver of the second vehicle was apparently oblivious to what he struck and carried on driving for 17 miles to Brooklyn until a passerby was finally able to call his attention to the man’s body.

In surveillance video obtained exclusively by PIX News, a man is seen exiting a vehicle that dropped him off on 108th Street, just before 6:09 a.m. The man is seen properly observing pedestrian safety rules as he crosses 50th Avenue. Soon after, a second man appears in the video and he is struck by the SUV. The first pedestrian, a witness to the accident, can be seen grabbing his head with his hands in disbelief. Police were called immediately afterwards.”

There is really nothing I can say about this one? But here is a video, which I would not advise not watching.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup Continued

Today we continue with several more pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items. There are too many pedestrian collisions just since the first of the year. After reading too many pedestrian-accident reports I suggest that both drivers and pedestrians pay more attention to what’s ahead or what’s coming. Today we’ll look at one additional news item that adds to our investigation into what themes or reasons (causes) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.  By analyzing how pedestrians get into accidents with motor vehicles maybe we can avoid finding ourselves in this situation.  Today we examine Elizabeth, New Jersey’s pedestrian collision involving a firefighter.

Elizabeth, New Jersey - January 2009 – An early morning house fire placed firefighter Gary Stephens in the situation of directing fire trucks at the scene. As a veteran firefighter he found himself standing as a pedestrian behind a fire truck where he was run over. Whether the rear-warning alarm was working is unknown. As reported the fire was started by a homeless person attempting to stay warm.

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=122076@wcbs.dayport.com

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=122090@wcbs.dayport.com

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=122067@wcbs.dayport.com

It’s a very sad story, one that was probably avoidable but without a full report there isn’t much to go on. They never did say if the backup rear warning device was working. Although that may have helped we can’t be sure due to sirens probably being used at the same time.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup Continued

Again today we continue with several more pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items. As I previously stated, there are so many of them just since the first of the year. After reading too many pedestrian-accident reports I suggest that both drivers and pedestrians pay more attention to what’s ahead or what’s coming. Today we’ll look at one additional news item that adds to our investigation into what themes or reasons (causes) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.  By analyzing how pedestrians get into accidents with motor vehicles maybe we can avoid finding ourselves in this situation.   Today we start off in the windy city, Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago, Illinois – Forget about Chicago for this blog post because there are more than 1,000 pedestrian-car-truck-motorcycle collisions every year in the City of Chicago. I don’t have enough time or ink to write about them all.  The people of Chicago need to be more vigilant than in rural areas. I’ll devote an entire post or series of posts to just the inner city of Chicago. For today let’s look at Virginia.

Harrisonburg, Virginia – January 2009 – Three pedestrian deaths have occurred so far this year in Virginia. Two are discussed by the Times Dispatch News. One should be of interest to many of our readers. A 55-year-old woman was jogging “north in the southbound lane of South Main Street when she was struck by a car 273 feet north of West Fairview Avenue at 5:20 a.m. Anderson, a Harrisonburg resident, died at the scene.”

Richmond, Virginia – January 2009 – A Richmond lawyer in discussing the death of a pedestrian offers what we think is sound advice for pedestrians:

“This accident is a sad reminder that it is important to slow down and try and be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists that share the roads with cars.  It seems that there have been more people walking and biking lately and they often have no sidewalks or separate lane to use in their travels.”

Drivers need to remember and get used to sharing the road with bicyclists, pedestrians and other slower traffic. Getting angry at them or being impatient with the slower traffic doesn’t help avoid an accident. Frightening the slower traffic isn’t going to get you any faster to your destination. Try being considerate, you’ll be surprised at the reaction from most of your fellow mankind.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup Continued

Again today we continue with several more pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items. As I previously stated, there are so many of them just since the first of the year. After reading too many pedestrian-accident reports I suggest that both drivers and pedestrians pay more attention to what’s ahead or what’s coming. Today we’ll look at one additional news item that adds to our investigation into what themes or reasons (causes) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.  By analyzing how pedestrians get into accidents with motor vehicles maybe we can avoid finding ourselves in this situation.   Today we start off in the windy city, Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago, Illinois – Forget about Chicago for this blog post because there are more than 1,000 pedestrian-car-truck-motorcycle collisions every year in the City of Chicago. I don’t have enough time or ink to write about them all.  The people of Chicago need to be more vigilant than in rural areas. I’ll devote an entire post or series of posts to just the inner city of Chicago. For today let’s look at Virginia.

Harrisonburg, Virginia – January 2009 – Three pedestrian deaths have occurred so far this year in Virginia. Two are discussed by the Times Dispatch News. One should be of interest to many of our readers. A 55-year-old woman was jogging “north in the southbound lane of South Main Street when she was struck by a car 273 feet north of West Fairview Avenue at 5:20 a.m. Anderson, a Harrisonburg resident, died at the scene.”

Richmond, Virginia – January 2009 – A Richmond lawyer in discussing the death of a pedestrian offers what we think is sound advice for pedestrians:

“This accident is a sad reminder that it is important to slow down and try and be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists that share the roads with cars.  It seems that there have been more people walking and biking lately and they often have no sidewalks or separate lane to use in their travels.”

Drivers need to remember and get used to sharing the road with bicyclists, pedestrians and other slower traffic. Getting angry at them or being impatient with the slower traffic doesn’t help avoid an accident. Frightening the slower traffic isn’t going to get you any faster to your destination. Try being considerate, you’ll be surprised at the reaction from most of your fellow mankind.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup

Today we continue with the pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items. There are so many of them just since the first of the year. You can tell its spring. Today we’ll look at three additional news items that each provides a theme or reason (cause) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.

Taylor County, West Virginia, March 2009 – A 22-year-old young man was struck and killed while walking in the same direction as a car being driven by a 50-year-old man along Pup Run Road heading towards Route 250. This accident probably could have been avoided if the pedestrian had been walking against traffic; so he could watch oncoming cars. Not to excuse the driver, but pedestrians need to protect themselves against all of the dumb and lame things drivers do that distract them from the task of safely driving.

Hemet, California, February 2009 – A 64-year-old pedestrian man was struck and killed in Riverside County, California as he attempted to cross West Florida Street around 4:30 p.m. Rescue workers had to lift the Ford Taurus off of the pedestrian; the pedestrian ended up under the car. This report comes to us from Estey and Bomberger Law Firm.

Rochester, New Yuck, May 2009 – In this case an 11-year-old child was allowed to play near a busy street intersection. When she ran out into the street in the path of an oncoming vehicle she was struck and injured. For whatever reason relatives of the child came running onto the scene allegedly in a hostile manner confronting the driver. I wonder where the relatives were when the child was playing near this intersection. Police arrived and calmed things down. The child was taken to an area hospital apparently alright. Parents, supervisors, babysitters and even relatives need to be more concerned with where children play. Getting mad at the driver isn’t the answer.

Tomorrow we will continue with pedestrian safety.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup Continued

Today we continue with the pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items that have been sitting around in my box for months. There are so many of them just since the first of the year. You can tell its spring. Today we’ll look at three additional news items that each provides a theme or reason (cause) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.

Salt Lake City, Utah, March 2009 – Back to Salt Lake where we have a 53-year-old man steps out from behind a parked truck, when an oncoming driver looks away, swerves and strikes the man causing his death.  Police point to speed of the car and inattention of the driver are partially to blame. In this case it seems we have a little fault all the way around. Notice the pedestrian and driver never made eye contact where there is that moment of recognition that each knows of the other’s presence. If the pedestrian doesn’t have the driver’s attention or acknowledgement that he knows the pedestrian is there, then the pedestrian shouldn’t assume the driver sees him.

Willis, Texas – Walking on the interstate highway is never a good idea. In this instance a pedestrian walking on an Interstate Highway 45 was struck and killed around 12:30 Sunday morning. This section of the interstate was described as a desolate stretch of the freeway.

Lakeland, Florida, March 7, 2009 – An unidentified man, not carrying his wallet, was struck and killed by a 2000 Mitsubishi car, while trying to cross the street in Lakeland, Florida. The accident occurred around 7:10 p.m. The car was driving south so the sun wouldn’t likely be a factor. A Mitsubishi is a low car, at least some models and it makes driving them difficult. Speed could be a factor as well as the pedestrian running quickly from a side angle.

Iowa Pedestrian Injuries and Deaths - News Roundup

Today we continue with the pedestrian-car-truck-bus-train collision news items that have been sitting around in my box for months on end. There are so many of them just since the first of the year. You can tell its spring. Today we’ll look at three news items that each provides a theme or reason (cause) as to why pedestrians get struck so much.

Toronto, Canada, April 2009 – In this car-pedestrian collision we see that the safety dance between pedestrians and cars is a two-way tango. This pedestrian walked into the cross walk when she was supposed to, but her attention directed to talking on a cell phone rather than looking to see if the crosswalk was clear, allowed her to walk right out in front of a car and be killed.  The driver remains at fault but pedestrians have an obligation to avoid walking out in front of vehicles. Be safe, not sorry.

Los Angeles, California, April 2009 – According to this blog two pedestrian elderly women were killed after two cars collided and one losing control was knocked into them.

Joplin, Missouri, March 2009 – A 74-year-old woman was struck and killed as she stepped into the path of a pickup truck being driven by a 21-year-old. Another example of pedestrian’s not paying enough attention to their surroundings.

Westway, Texas, March 2009 – In this case a pickup truck driver struck a pedestrian walking along the side of the road. After striking the pedestrian witnesses reported the truck stopped, backed up, and then drove away. Witnesses gave chase and stopped the ma. Of course a hit-n-run is always an indication of something else going on. In this case police arrested the man for driving while intoxicated. Seeing and avoiding pedestrians is made so much harder when you’re highly intoxicated.

Come back tomorrow for more on pedestrian collisions.

Pedestrian Safety: News Roundup Continues

Yet another bicyclist and car collide in Des Moines

Have you ever seen a car or truck rollover?

Stop, Look and Listen – Hear that train a coming!

One more train-car collision that killed three people; including a 2-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 17-year-old in Macomb, Mississippi. The children were two boys and a mother young woman was killed.  She was 17. The young man, another 17-year-old was in critical condition and taken to the hospital. The train was heading to Chicago from New Orleans. The car and train collided even though witnesses identified the sound of the train’s horn blowing as it approached. Apparently the car didn’t stop.

Distracted driving kills more people than you can imagine.

Before crossing those train tracks, stop to listen and look

On September 21rst 2009 a New London woman died after she drove her pickup truck around the crossing arms at the railroad tracks and was hit by an Amtrak train. The accident happened in eastern Iowa. The collision occurred at about 5:45 p.m near Danville. The driver of the truck died at the scene. There were 250 passengers on board and no injuries have been reported as of yet. One has to wonder what would possess someone to drive around the crossing arms. Was she in that big of a hurry, were the arms not functioning correctly? Is the train engineer supposed to sound his horn before entering the intersection? Did he? Was corn blocking the view? Was the driver upset, distracted, under the influence or just didn't care to think? What does the train sound like as it comes down those tracks? Listen to this blues harmonica player recreate the sound of the train's horn as it comes down the tracks.

We’ve written about train intersection collisions before today. Here are a few articles for you to review.

Iowa, Another Freight Train-Car Collision Death | InjuryBoard Des ... Posted by Steve LombardiSeptember 24, 2009 6:01 PM ... William Mudd of Hamilton Illinois was hit and killed by a freight train near the Keokuk Yacht club. ...
desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../iowa-another-freight-traincar-collision-death.aspx?... - Cached - Similar

• Another train-car fatility in Iowa's Crawford County | InjuryBoard ... Another train-car fatility in Iowa's Crawford County. Email Member · Steve Lombardi. Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 335. Visit Steve Lombardi on Facebook ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../another-traincar-fatility-in-iowas-crawford-county.aspx?... - 1 hour ago - Similar

• Train crossing collision in St. Louis kills pregnant mother ... Train crossing collision in St. Louis kills pregnant mother. Email Member · Steve Lombardi. Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 335 ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../train-crossing-collision-in-st-louis-kills-pregnant-mother.aspx?... - Cached - Similar

• Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) | InjuryBoard Des ... Steve Lombardi | April 25, 2009 6:29 PM | 1 CommentDes Moines, IA. An Iowa woman killed by a train has been identified as Kristi Brown of Tama, Iowa. ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/mass-transit-accidents/ - Cached - Similar

• Iowa pedestrian struck and killed by moving train in Tama ... Iowa pedestrian struck and killed by moving train in Tama. Email Member · Steve Lombardi. Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 335. Visit Steve Lombardi on Facebook ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../iowa-pedestrian-struck-and-killed-by-moving-train-in-tama.aspx?... - Cached - Similar

• Van Crashes into Train in Adams County, Iowa | InjuryBoard Des Moines Van Crashes into Train in Adams County, Iowa. Email Member · Steve Lombardi. Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 335. Visit Steve Lombardi on Facebook · Visit Steve ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../van-crashes-into-train-in-adams-county-iowa.aspx?... - Cached - Similar

• Car versus Train; Which will win in a crash? | injuryboard Des Moines Train cases can be very interesting. There are so many issues and some very different ... The Lombardi Law Firm (866) 735-1102 Ext 335 www.lombardilaw.com/ ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../car-versus-train-which-will-win-in-a-crash.aspx?... - Cached - Similar

• Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) | InjuryBoard Des ... InjuryBoard Des Moines - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) ... The Lombardi Law Firm (866) 735-1102 Ext 335 www.lombardilaw.com/ ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/mass-transit-accidents/Page2/ - Cached - Similar

• Train | injuryboard Des Moines Steve Lombardi | April 25, 2009 6:29 PM | 1 CommentDes Moines, IA Category: Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus). An Iowa woman killed by a train ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/tag/Train/ - Cached - Similar

• Lombardi Law Firm Donates Wii to Blank Children's Hospital ... Aug 10, 2009 ... Automobile Accidents · Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) ... Locally, the law firm of Lombardi Law Firm is donating a Wii ...
  desmoines.injuryboard.com/.../lombardi-law-firm-donates-wii-to-blank-childrens-hospital-pediatric-therapy-services-in-ankeny.aspx... - Cached - Similar

Dangerous Ditches on Rural Iowa Farm to Market Roadways

On October 7^th 2009 the Plymouth County sheriff’s office said that its deputies found the body of 29 year old Michael Ahlers while investigating a report of a car in the river. It is being reported that the car was partially submerged in the Little Sioux River. The investigation remains open however authorities are stating that they do not believe foul play was involved.

<a href=""><img src="" width="" height="" border="0" alt="" /></a>
I've previously written about rural ditches and how dangerous they are when cars, trucks and motorcycles leave the county roads. Here are a few stories I've previously written.

• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | August 2007

Steve Lombardi | August 31, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Category: Motorcycle Accidents ... bound on P53 when he lost control of the bike around a curve and rolled into a ditch ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2007_8_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | September 2007

Steve Lombardi | September 28, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Category: Head & Brain Injuries ... The Gazette reported a motorcycle rolled over "several times" after going into the ditch ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2007_9_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page
• All Topics | InjuryBoard Des Moines

Steve Lombardi | September 23, 2009 2:17 PM | 0 Comments Des Moines, IA. This one is coming out ... at 2:50pm occurred when a Toyota Tundra left the curved roadway, crashed into the ditch ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/all-topics/most-popular
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines | Iowa Personal Injury Attorney

Steve Lombardi | October 04, 2009 3:08 PM Category: Defective & Dangerous Products ... Sheldon, IA was driving a Honda ATV on September 18, 2009. Driving in the east ditch off ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | July 2007

Steve Lombardi | July 27, 2007 12:08 AM | 0 Comments Category: Head & Brain Injuries ... four or five times on Interstate 80 before it flew over the median and landed in a ditch

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2007_7_archive.aspx
  •  
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | April 2009

Steve Lombardi | April 22, 2009 11:11 PM | 0 Comments Category: Automobile Accidents ... Appanoose County when he lost control of his vehicle striking a tree in the West ditch.

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2009_4_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | June 2007

Steve Lombardi | June 27, 2007 10:22 AM | 0 Comments Category: Wrongful Death ... says two bicyclists were struck by a pickup truck, sending one into the east ditch and ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2007_6_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | September 2009

Steve Lombardi | September 30, 2009 10:15 PM | 0 Comments Category: Motorcycle Accidents ... at 2:50pm occurred when a Toyota Tundra left the curved roadway, crashed into the ditch ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2009_9_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page
• Automobile Accidents | InjuryBoard Des Moines

Steve Lombardi | September 29, 2009 9:28 AM | 1 Comment Des Moines, IA. It’s a new week and ... at 2:50pm occurred when a Toyota Tundra left the curved roadway, crashed into the ditch ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents
  • · Cached page
• InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | June 2009

Steve Lombardi | June 17, 2009 3:48 PM | 17 Comments Category: Automobile Accidents. This is one of those accidents I hate writing about but without this posting the relatives and ...

•  
  • desmoines.injuryboard.com/archives/2009_6_archive.aspx
  • · Cached page

Train Accident Caused by Tall Corn Blocking the View?

Wednesday, September 30^th, about noon, Edward R. Stevens, age 76, was driving down a country road south of Ohio 103, in Bloomville, when Stevens was hit by a westbound Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway train, according to Bucyrus Telegraph Forum news source. It was reported that at this crossing on Schwemley Road, there is no warning signal or gates. One of Steven’s neighbors, Donald Rayoum, said, “When you are driving north and the corn is grown up like it is now, you cannot see if a train is coming.” Steven was driving a 1991 Ford pick-up and was not wearing a seatbelt. Investigation is still underway.

Of course in Iowa we know the corn is there, but then again so does the train's engineer. How about that horn to signal the train's approach to the intersection?

Another train-car collision causes another death

On Monday, September 22, about 5:45pm, Catherine Lea Stinson, age 45, was hit by an Amtrak train at 145th Street and U.S. 34, according to John Mangalonzo reporter from The Hawkeye online news source. Witnesses said she drove around crossing gates which were down. The train was westbound and hit the passenger side dragging the vehicle half of a mile. Danville emergency crew tried to remove the New London woman from her 2008 Dodge Ram, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Recent train collisions have brought this kind of accident to the fore front. Hawkeye news said:

“Authorities noted that nearly half of all collisions at railroad crossings occur when automatic warning devices, such as flashing lights or flashing lights with gates, are present and functioning properly.

According to recent statistics, a railroad accident occurs every two hours in the United States, in which a pedestrian or vehicle is struck by a train. In 2007, there were 13,067 railroad related accidents, according to the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Safety Analysis.”

The message of safety here is to not ignore the warnings. They aren't there just to be inconvenient for you. There are there to be obeyed. And if you’re using a cell phone put it down while you stop, look and listen.  A distracted driver is more likely to be a dead one.

Another Hit and Run in Des Moines: Kills a Teen this time

Late Saturday night, September 26^th, Devin Fry, age 13, and Rabiatu Timothy, 17, and Marcus Ira-Jenkins, 15, were hit by a dark SUV, now known to be a black Jeep Grand Chereokee, according to the Des Moines Register. Fry and Timothy were brought to the hospital after the police arrived at the scene around 11:45pm. Fry died after surgery on his lungs on Sunday morning. Timothy was in critical condition, but is now said to be doing better. The third teen, Ira-Jenkins, was brushed by the car, but not hurt. The kids were crossing the 1600 block of East University, not in the crosswalk, going north to go to a friend’s house or the Liberian Cultural Center. Ira-Jenkins said he saw the car swerving and with no head-lights on as it came towards them.

There was a tip given to police that led them to 36 year old Angela Arellano.   The police found the black grand Cherokee which was the alleged vehicle in the accident on Sunday at Arellano’s address. Monday morning Arellano, who police were looking for as a material witness, turned herself in to police bringing her own lawyer. Arellano is now charged with “vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle” and it is also reported by the Des Moines Register that, “Police Sgt. Lori Lavorato said Arellano was intoxicated at the time of the accident.” Arellano is in the Polk County jail and has an $80,000 bond.

NOTE: There is no known proof of her being intoxicated. A this point that allegation is only an allegation.

The third hit and run accident that has led to a fatality in Des Moines within a month has now killed a young teenage boy who was said to be a good student and hoped to one day play on the high school football team.  This has caused people to wonder the cause of multiple hit and runs in a short span of time. Officer Don Ouimet commented on the topic after the hit and run involving McKinney and Mark Grgurich. Ouimet said:

“Usually it’s that they don’t have a driver’s license, or no insurance or they have a warrant for their arrest, or there’s some illicit activity going on. Maybe they really didn’t know it happened or that it was so minor it wasn’t worth reporting.”

“Hit-and-run people are everyday folks who make a poor choice,” Ouimet said. “But rarely do they leave from sheer panic. There is almost always another reason.”

Videos:

Stop, Look and Listen: There's a train coming down the tracks!

On August 25th 2009 66 year old William Mudd of Hamilton Illinois was hit and killed by a freight train near the Keokuk Yacht club. The Keokuk Police Department says that the accident happened at around 4 o’clock but is unsure of the circumstances surrounding the accident. The train, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe, was carrying a black box and officials will be able to determine how fast the train was going at the time of the accident. The investigation remains open and ongoing.