Wrong-way Collision Day – February 4, 2011

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

Blog Category:

2/4/2011
Steve Lombardi
Comments (0)

Wrong-way Collision Day – February 4, 2011

Wrong-way driver crashes into van with four children on SR 417
Orlando Sentinel
A wrong-way driver on State Road 417 in Seminole County was killed early today when he struck a van with six people in it - four of them children. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Wrong Way Driver Kills Two People in Route 33 Accident
WGRZ-TV
... Anderson of Buffalo and his passenger, Thomas Johnson of Ohio, were killed in the accident that investigators believe was caused by a wrong way driver. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Family of wrong way driver makes statement
WIVB
BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - A family is sharing thoughts and prayers in the wake of a devastating crash. Ruckdaschel remains in critical condition at ECMC. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Southfield man killed by wrong-way driver
C&G Newspapers
21 after his vehicle was struck by another driving the wrong way. The victim was traveling southbound on M-10, near the Meyers exit, at which point he ...
See all stories on this topic »

Girl-slay driver in appeal bid
New York Post
By KIERAN CROWLEY A lawyer for the wrong-way drunken driver who killed two people in a horrific Long Island crash -- including a 7-year-old flower girl who ...
See all stories on this topic »

Man arrested for driving wrong way, suspected drugs found
Monroe News Star
... wrong way on Sherrouse Street, turning onto White Street and running a stop sign at south College Street. When the officer made contact with the driver, ...
See all stories on this topic »

Police chase winds through both KCs, ends in arrest
Kansas City Star
When an officer walked up to the driver's window, the driver sped away, causing the officer to jump out of the way. The suspect drove the wrong way on the ...
See all stories on this topic »

Policeman jumps on automobile bonnet to stop drunk driver
The Reader
After driving the wrong way for over five kilometres, during which time he caused two accidents and put other drivers at risk, the driver ignored police ...
See all stories on this topic »

I deserve all that's coming to me for hurt I have caused
Derby Evening Telegraph
By catherine oakes and martin naylor A DRINK-DRIVER who sped the wrong way down the A52, ploughing head-on into another car and seriously injuring a ...
See all stories on this topic »

Wrong Way Driver On 417 Leaves Fire Rescue Amazed That More Lives ...
By blog@www.cullen-law.com (News Author)20365
Every day people are the victim of accidents, abuse, dishonesty, violence or recklessness. What are the causes, what happens to those responsible, can these people be protected, will they be compensated..? Read our News section to get a ...
Florida Accident, Injury, and... - http://www.cullen-law.com/blog/

Serious Injuries, One Dead in Wrong-Way-Driver Car Accident ...
By Oldham & Smith
Early this morning in Seminole County, a wrong-way driver was involved in a head -on collision with a van containing six.
Orlando Personal Injury Attorney... - http://www.orlandopersonalinjurylawyersblog.com/

Driver in wrong-way crash on the 33 identified « News WNYmedia ...
By ynn
24-year-old Matthew Ruckdaschel of Getzville was driving the wrong way in the westbound lanes of the Kensington Expressway, according to police.
Buffalo 123 - http://www.buffalo123.com/buffalo/

Driver going wrong way killed in crash - WEAR ABC 3 :: Florida News
(AP) -- A driver going the wrong way driver in Seminole County was killed after hitting a van. Authorities on Monday say the van had six people in it, four were children. Authorities don't know why the man was driving the wrong way. ...
News - http://weartv.com/?q=http://www.evilaliv3.org/

Martin Heidgen Appeals Murder Conviction In Meadowbrook Parkway ...
By mzielinska
The Long Island man convicted of a notorious wrong-way drunk driving crash that killed a 7-year-old girl and a limo driver is making a plea for freedom Monday. A panel of judges in Brooklyn heard Martin Heidgen's appeal in connection ...
CBS New York - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/

Wrong way driver State Road 417 crash: Wrong way driver accused of ...
A wrong-way driver is accused of crashing into a van full of children on State Road 417 Monday.
www.orlandosentinel.com/.../os-wrong-way-driver-crash-child...

Wrong-way driver killed after crashing into van full of children.
Central Florida News 13
The force of the crash killed the wrong-way driver instantly, and sent the van partially over a guardrail that separated it from a 150-foot drop. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Gulfport woman killed going wrong way on I-110
WLBT-TV
(AP) - Police say a driver who was killed in a four-car accident on Interstate 110 had driven more than a mile in the wrong direction before running head on ...
See all stories on this topic »

Wrong-way, head-on crash killed 2 on S.R. 91 in Anaheim, Calif.
NewYorkInjuryNews (press release)
Anaheim, CA-A wrong-way driver caused a head-on collision, which left two people dead on a Southern California freeway on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Suspect sought in wrong-way pursuit crash
abc7.com
... truck and tried to pull the driver over, but he sped away. Officers backed off the chase when the driver went the wrong way on the northbound 215 Freeway.
See all stories on this topic »

"Wrong Way" Accident Victim's Identified
WBEN 930
A police spokesperson says at least one other driver tried to warn Ruckdashel that he was traveling in the wrong direction on the expressway. ...
See all stories on this topic »

After 2 heroic collisions, mermaid's tail is on the line again
The Virginian-Pilot
The collision caused an extraordinary amount of damage, but more importantly, it immediately stopped the truck from driving the wrong way into an onslaught ...
See all stories on this topic »

Motorcyclist killed by wrong-way driver on I-215 was Mark Offeney ...
By Cathy Maestri
Motorcyclist killed by wrong-way driver on I-215 was Mark Offeney of Nuevo. Authorities have released the name of a motorcyclist killed Saturday when an alleged truck thief drove the wrong way on Interstate 215 in San Bernardino. ...
Riverside CA Inland Empire Southern... - http://www.instantriverside.com/

Man killed by wrong-way driver | Canton, Michigan LocalSpur - News ...
DETROIT A 26-year-old Southfield man was killed early Saturday morning when his car collided with a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the Lodge Freeway in Detroit. The accident happened at 3:45 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the ...
Canton, Michigan LocalSpur -... - http://canton.localspur.com/

Man killed by wrong-way driver
Detroit Free Press
A 26-year-old Southfield man was killed early Saturday morning when his car collided with a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the Lodge Freeway in ...
See all stories on this topic »

Driver killed going wrong way on I-110
SunHerald.com
Dispatchers received one call from a driver reporting the incident, Davis said. Delaughter, driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trail Blazer, crested the bridge and ...
See all stories on this topic »

Alleged car thief heading the wrong way on the freeway kills motorcyclist
Los Angeles Times
The driver of a stolen Ford pickup struck and killed a motorcyclist in San Bernardino on Saturday after he sped the wrong way down the 210 Freeway to evade ...
See all stories on this topic »

Second elderly motorist in a week drives wrong way on I-95
Bangor Daily News
By Judy Harrison CARMEL, Maine - For the second time in less than a week, an elderly driver was stopped going the wrong way on Interstate 95, according to ...
See all stories on this topic »

Wrong-way driver causes multi-vehicle crash in San Diego County
Southwest Riverside News Network
The wrong-way driver was reported going south in northbound lanes at 3:38 am and, minutes later, a collision was reported just north of Jamacha Road. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Category: General

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

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.