Today, December 29, 2010 is Crash Report Day

Today is our day to report on the ISP crash reports. The good news is there are only three fatality reports from the Iowa State Patrol crash reports. The bad news is there are three fatality reports on the ISP crash report site. So let's take a look at the one minimal and the two full reports.

Two reports are for the same accident in Mills County, Iowa that occurred on December 13, 2010. In this accident a man is driving a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer, he's from Topeka, Kansas and is 60 years-old. For whatever reason, none given in the minimal report, his car goes off the road and rolls at 35.50 mile marker. He wasn't wearing a seat belt and was killed. So let's read the complete report to see if there is additional information as to what caused him to lose control and leave the highway along with what eventually caused his death. You'll noticed below the Narrative has changed slightly and it gives us more detail about causes. Note that the man wasn't wearing his seatbelt and was completely ejected from the car. Weather and surface conditions were clear so there is no explanation of why he lost control. It could have been a deer or his falling asleep. Falling asleep isn't likely because the accident occurred at 6:25 pm on December 13, 2010 while driving along Interstate 29 (i29) in northeast Iowa. That road is pretty straight and level. It's hard to tell exactly what happened.

Accident covered by Trooper Kinser, Badge No. 425.

This next accident out of Lucas County is a tough one to evaluate, because the woman and her son who were attempting to render aid were witnesses and perhaps participants in and to another accident. Here is the Trooper's description:

DRIVER OF VEHICLE #1, RACHEL GREENE, HAD PARKED HER VEHICLE ON THE SOUTHBOUND SHOULDER OF HWY 65 IN ORDER TO RENDER AID TO VICTIMS OF A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND LYING IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES NEAR THE CENTERLINE OF THE ROADWAY. AFTER EXITING HER VEHICLE, GREENE OBSERVED VEHICLE #2 NORTHBOUND. HER SON ATTEMPTED TO SIGNAL THE DRIVER OF VEHICLE #2 WITH A FLASHLIGHT TO STOP DUE TO THE ROADWAY BEING BLOCKED. VEHICLE #2 ENTERED THE ACCIDENT SCENE, SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED. THE REAR TIRES OF THE TRAILER BEING TOWED BY VEHICLE #2 STRUCK THE INJURED DRIVER, MICHAEL BRADLEY WHO WAS LYING IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE #2 THEN WENT ONTO THE SOUTHBOUND SHOULDER AND STRUCK VEHICLE #1. BOTH VEHICLE #1 AND #2 CAME TO REST PARTIALLY IN THE WEST DITCH. THE PREVIOUS ACCIDENT WAS COVERED BY TRP. TUCKER #487, CASE #2010072543.

Really we have two accidents stemming from one crash and the sequence of events that followed. The crash location is noted to be ½ north of junction H50 and northbound 65 on US Highway 65 in Lucas County. The time is 7:30 p.m. on December 22, 2010. From what I can tell from the report, there was an accident between two cars that were rendered disabled. One of the cars was off the highway and the other partially still on the highway but off on the right side a skewed to the right edge along Highway 65. Another car comes along and notices that a person is lying on the roadway. She parks on what appears to be along the southbound shoulder of this two-lane roadway. I'm not sure if she came from the north of from the south. Another vehicle a semi-truck comes from the south is pulling a trailer, doesn't see the body in the roadway in time to stop and runs it over. The man died from all his injuries.

Here is a point of law that not many people know. Whoever is at fault for the first accident can be liable for the damages from the second accident as well. If you cause an accident and place someone in further danger you are equally responsible.

Crash:                

Minimal Reports

A crash occurred in Mills County on December 13, 2010

UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I 29, WENT OFF THE ROADWAY INTO THE EAST DITCH AT THE 35,50 MM ROLLED AND CAME TO REST FACING SOUTH IN THE EAST DITCH
ASSISTING THE IOWA STATE PATROL WERE PACIFIC JUNCTION FIRE AND RESCUE,  GLENWOOD FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THE MILLS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Full Reports

A crash occurred in Lucas County on December 22, 2010

DRIVER OF VEHICLE #1, RACHEL GREENE, HAD PARKED HER VEHICLE ON THE SOUTHBOUND SHOULDER OF HWY 65 IN ORDER TO RENDER AID TO VICTIMS OF A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. THE D ...

A crash occurred in Mills County on December 13, 2010

UNIT 1 WAS NORTHBOUND ON I-29 IN THE RIGHT LANE. AT APPROXIMATELY 1825 HRS UNIT 1 WENT INTO THE EAST DITCH AT THE 35.50MM, ROLLED, AND CAME TO REST ON ITS WHEELS FACING SOUTHBOUND IN THE EAST DITCH. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN UNIT 1 AND THE TREE.