Wrong-way Collision and Accidents as of December 26, 2011

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Wrong-way Interstate and Highway Collisions in Iowa

12/26/2011
Steve Lombardi
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Wrong-way Collision and Accidents as of December 26, 2011

This week’s wrong-way driver accidents taking place across the world but especially on interstate highways in America are an eclectic blend of mania and drunk driving. States included in this issue are Ohio (US Route 30, cause not mentioned); Idaho Falls, Idaho (Drunk driving, .266, 8-year prison sentence, I-15); San Antonio, Texas (I-37, intoxication manslaughter charge, another story); San Antonio, Texas another report with video; San Antonio, Texas (IH-10, reason unstated); Hampton, Virginia (I-64, multiple fatalities, alcohol alleged to have played a factor); Suffolk County, New York (Route 25, Veterans Memorial Highway, charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs is alleged; another story link indicating blood alcohol level was 0.20 on a 0.08 legal limit); (I-64, two students killed, see above Hampton, Virginia wrong-way crash); Forest Park, Missouri (St. Louis KSDK, fatality, St. Louis Metropolitan Police raw video); Van Wert, Ohio (U.S. 30 car drove from Indiana into Ohio, cause unknown); Glasgow, Scotland (M-8, alcohol involved, fatality); Chippewa County, Wisconsin (I-29, intoxication issue described in news article); and another story on the I-37 crash out of Texas.

Almost without exception alcohol, with very high levels was a substantial factor.
Ireland - There is an interesting story from December 26, 2011 about drivers fearing wrong-way drivers on a certain section of a brand new interstate highway west of Dungannon and Belfast in Ireland.
Wrong-way driver hits car, kills woman
San Antonio Express
Investigator Brandon Campbell with the San Antonio Police Department said a woman died after her car was struck by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 37 near Jones Avenue about 4:18 am Saturday. The woman, in her early 40s, was driving south in a PT ...
Wrong-way driver arrested for OWI
Chippewa Herald
By THE HERALD Chippewa.com | Posted: Monday, December 5, 2011 3:55 pm | (0) Comments A snowplow driver noticed him first. Two Lake Hallie police officers then responded to track down the driver going the wrong way on Highway 29 on a snowy night. ...
Wrong-way driver, speeder charged with DWI
Newsday
Click here Wrong-way driver, speeder charged with DWI Originally published: December 9, 2011 5:54 PM Updated: December 9, 2011 10:13 PM By ELLEN YAN ellen.yan@newsday.com A wrong-way driver and another driver who said he fell asleep with his car going ...
Police: Wrong way driver kills woman
KSAT San Antonio
A woman on a goodwill mission to help another driver was hit and killed by a man going the wrong way on I-37 just east of downtown on Saturday, said San Antonio police. Police received the call for a wrong way driver around 4:15 am for a driver heading ...
Fatality fears over wrong way drivers
Belfast Newsletter
“Unfortunately, further incidents of 'wrong way driving' on the dual carriageway have continued to occur. “The department is in the process of conducting a final safety audit to assess the issue and to identify any further measures that may be required ...
Wrong-way M8 driver killed woman
BBC News
A drink-driver killed a charity worker after going down the wrong side of a motorway for a mile, a court has heard. The High Court in Glasgow was told Ross Parker ploughed into Margo Boulazreg's Fiat on the M8 in the city as she took her son to a night ...
Wrong-way driver stopped north of Van Wert
Times Bulletin
VAN WERT - The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Van Wert Post is investigating a wrong-way driver who drove from Indiana into Ohio on US 30 using the westbound lanes on Saturday. At 5:05 pm, the Patrol received a call reporting a wrong-way driver crossing ...
Wrongway driver dies in Forest Park crash
KSDK
The car was torn apart and the driver died while rescuers were trying to get him out. About 2700 homes in the area lost power after the crash. A police car was also hit while working the accident, but no one was injured in that crash.
Police: I-37 wrong-way driver smashes into PT Cruiser
KENS 5 TV
by KENS 5 Staff A wrong-way driver near downtown San Antonio slammed into a car, almost killing the passenger officers say. According to authorities, the driver of a red Chevy Cavalier was heading northbound in the southbound lanes of I-37 Saturday ...
Newport News man accused in wrong way crash released from hospital
Daily Press
By Ashley Kelly, akelly@dailypress.com | 757-247-4778 HAMPTON — A Newport News man who police say was driving the wrong way on I-64 Sunday before a fatal crash that killed two Christopher Newport University students was released from the hospital ...
Police Report: Forging Stolen Checks, Wrong Way Driver ...
The following arrest information was supplied by the Suffolk County Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Second person dies after head-on crash | WAVY.com | Hampton, Va.
Wrong way driver results in crash on I-64 West, east of the Harpersville Road overpass (Photos courtesy: Virginia State Police). Jesse Evans. According to information from Newport News General District Court, Jesse Evans has other pending ...
wrong-way driver slams into 18-wheeler|WOAI: San Antonio News
Traffic backed up for miles after a wrong-way driver crashed head-on with an 18- wheeler. It happened on IH-10 near Callaghan around 8:00pm Friday.
Police: Wrong way driver kills woman | News - Home
A woman on a goodwill mission to help another driver is hit and killed by a man going the wrong way on I-37 just east of downtown, said San Antonio police.
Police: I-37 wrong-way driver smashes into PT Cruiser | kens5.com ...
A wrong-way driver near downtown San Antonio slammed into a car, almost killing the passenger officers say. According to authorities, the driver of a red Chevy ...
Wrong way driver gets 8 years for DUI, injury to child | KTVB.COM ...
IDAHO FALLS -- A Blackfoot man has been sentenced to up to 8 years in prison for felony drunken driving after prosecutors said he drove down the wrong side ...
Wrong way driver stopped on U.S. 30, patrol, wert, state - Local ...
Local News: Wrong way driver stopped on U.S. 30, patrol, wert, state, route, ohio, coffee, night, stopped, vehicle, driver.

Labels: attorney collisions death highway I-235 I-35 I-380 I-80 injury Interstate Iowa State Patrol lawyer Lombardi negligence reports safety wrong-way wrong-way collisions

Wrong-way drivers are causing deaths in America’s interstate highway system all across the United States. Wrong-way collisions can have several causes and there are things we can do to educate ourselves from being involved in one. With two vehicles traveling towards one another at 70 mph death is almost certain. So what can you do to avoid being in one?

For several months I’ve collected news items on wrong-way collisions and have analyzed where, when and how they occurred. There have been so many that I can only cover the month of July for 2009 and that is enough to provide us with 70 separate wrong-way collisions from hundreds of news stories. From these news reported collisions that here are the general causes and how we can avoid being one of those who die from a wrong-way driver coming towards us at 50 to 70 mph.

About wrong-way drivers

Wrong way drivers present an obvious danger to all motorists on our highways.

The most recent available crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates wrong way drivers are involved in 1.5 percent of all fatal crashes.

Drivers who travel the wrong way on one way highways generally fall into one of our different categories:

Intoxicated driver
Older drivers who easily get confused
Purposeful acts including attempts to commit suicide and criminals attempting to elude the police
Inattentive drivers who mistake an off-ramp for an on-ramp
Mental defect or disease
Prescription drug intoxication
Inexperience
GPS providing incorrect, inaccurate or confusing information

Safety tips and information related to wrong way driver situations:

Watch far ahead for signs of a possible wrong way driver, looking for signs similar to pending problems or developing emergency situations such as other traffic braking or swerving to avoid something, or the obvious - headlights coming in the opposite direction.
Caution against driving long periods in the left lane on freeways, especially on curves and over a hill or any rise in the road where you aren’t able to clearly see ahead.
Be aware that wrong way drivers usually drive in the passing lane believing they are actually on a two-lane highway.
The most common types of wrong way crashes are head-on or sideswipe crashes.

What should you do if you see a wrong-way driver?

· Get to the shoulder and stop.

· If you can’t get to the shoulder, slow down and attempt to safely stop your vehicle by pulling to the right.

· Sound your horn.

· Put on your lights and flash the high beams.

· Call 9-1-1.

· Before getting in the car wear your seat belts.

· Drive in the right hand lane of travel on the Interstate.

· When passing or coming to the crest of a hill look ahead for a wrong-way driver making sure the lane is clear.

· Assume when in the left hand lane of a divided highway that you may come upon a wrong-way driver.

· When driving on a divided highway stay vigilant and pay attention to what is ahead of you. Avoid allowing distractions to take your attention off the road ahead.

How can drivers avoid wrong-way driving?

· Don’t drive drunk.

· When coming to a divided highway come to a complete stop, look at and read the signs, making sure you know which way to go.

· Don’t allow vehicles to the rear to rush you.

· Stay off the telephone when driving.

· Don’t allow distractions to interfere with being vigilant about your driving.

· If you’re a young driver, don’t drive when the other passengers are a distraction.

· If you’re an elderly driver, get evaluated once a year to see if your senses and skill level allow you to safely drive. Don’t be so stubborn about giving up your driver’s license that you ignore the signs of perception difficulties. Invest in and use a GPS.