News
I-35 I-80 I-235 I-380 Collisions/Accidents
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The Hazard of Fatigued Semi-Truck and Car Drivers
Jan 11, 2010This is a horrible accident that even the newscaster wasn’t comfortable reporting on. It happened on I-80 in Pennsylvania on January 7, 2010.
The collision happened at the Clintonville exit in Venango County on I-80 involving an SUV and a semi were westbound both lost control, headed across the median strip and the semi hit a minivan head-on, then turning over onto it and killing several people. From the report at least two people died and three or four others were injured.
Here is the news report from KOKA Channel 2 in Pennsylvania.
What is interesting is the report that Pennsylvania State Patrol was investigating driver fatigue and whether it had anything to do with the initial driver reactions leading to the crash. I find this of interest because someone recently inquired how interstate highway travel poses different risks than do local streets and avenues. I pointed out that the long drives create a situation of boredom and that semi-drivers going coast to coast must be more likely to suffer from fatigue. Add in the terrible weather that made driving conditions miserable and you have a recipe for multi-car collisions.
Interstate travel presents many risks that are different than you’d expect to encounter with in-town driving. And fatigue is one of them. I regularly see people on Interstates 80 and 35 that drive along beside a semi-truck. They aren’t considerate and don’t think twice about the semi driver perhaps not even realizing they are beside his rig. Some are on cell phones increasing the risk of an accident. It’s frustrating for me to see so many people with so many distractions while driving and it seems they could care less about the risks posed.
Are you fatigued? Do you drive fatigued? Do yourself a favor along with the other drivers on the Interstate highway system – pull over and take a nap.
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I-80 Collision Kills Iowan from Walnut
Jan 09, 2010A gentleman from Walnut, Iowa was killed in a three-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 at the 38th mile marker heading eastbound. He was Lloyd Houston, 52 years old driving a 1985 International dump truck. The other vehicles were semi’s. We wish his family and loved ones well.
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In One Day, I-380 and Cedar Rapids Have More than 3 Dozen Accidents
Jan 09, 2010Let’s talk snow conditions and slick roads. Linn County, Iowa is normally a peaceful place; but adding snow, ice and slick roads to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for an auto collision disaster. In just one day police and the Iowa State Patrol responded to more than three dozen collisions in the area. Cedar Rapids is the place where flooding closed the court houses for both the state and federal bench.
You’d think people would just stay home, but they don’t.
You’d think Cedar Rapids would get a break, but it isn’t.
See the flooding that occurred in June of 2008.
There is only one thing I can think of that compares. All that Cedar Rapids is missing are pestilence. Watch as all of those from Linn County run into Johnston County to escape the flooding waters of the Cedar River. (Just kidding!)
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Hawkeye Cato and Cyclone Benton involved in I-35 Collision in Texas
Nov 26, 2009David Cato, 19 who plays defensive back for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Ter’ran Denton, (sic) 19 a defensive back from the Iowa State Cyclones were driving on I-35 south of Purcell at 10:00 a.m. on a Sunday when the car they were in rolled after coming in contact with a semi-truck. According to the news report the trooper has the 18-wheeler being nudged before rolling and striking the embankment on the west side of the Interstate Highway.
Both Cato and Denton were wearing seatbelts. Both required medical care and treatment. It appears the most seriously injured was Denton, the Iowa State Cyclone, who was transported to the Norman Regional Hospital for a head injury. There is no indication if he suffered from traumatic brain injury or how serious and extensive his head injury.
David Cato is listed on the Iowa Hawkeye Football team roster as a sophomore defensive back from Arlington, Texas. He is listed as second on the depth chart behind Sash.
DB
So.
1V
5-11/205
Arlington, TX (Summit)
Ter’ran Benton is listed on the Cyclones roster as also from Arlington, Texas and a defensive back in his sophomore year. The roster has his last name as Benton not Denton.
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DB
6-0
197
So.
Arlington, Texas (Summit)
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Iowa's Clayton County head-on collision kills other driver
Nov 10, 2009It’s reported that a vehicle being driven by Sarah Austin, 21 or Luana crossed the center line on U.S. Highway 52 at 5:45 a.m. on November 8, 2009 killing a 41-year-old man. The man Lee Zuercher was reported to not be wearing his seatbelt. His passenger, 18-year-old Coedy Zuercher was and apparently survived. So what did cause the car driven by Ms. Austin to cross the center line? That is the question any legal claims will be required to answer. As a lawyer I’d focus on whether she had a cell phone in the car and whether she was texting or talking. She may have spoken to the police and they may know the answer to that question. Any good investigation would require a search of the accident scene before first snow falls. My suggestion to the incident injured passenger and estate is to act fast.
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I-80 Construction Area Collision Kills in Iowa, Government Safety Workers Don't Get It
Oct 26, 2009I drove to Iowa City this weekend for Parent's Day at the Law School. On the return trip to Des Moines Barbara and I passed through this work construction zone at the Oxford exit on I-80. The road work zone seems small. I suspect, although I can't say for sure, that it's on the westbound lanes. Here is our original news story.
We don’t have much information this morning, but it’s being reported by Radio Iowa and the Des Moines Register that a road construction crew on I-80 near Oxford, Iowa were injured with a semi-truck collided with one of the cement or concrete barriers in a construction zone. Oxford is about nine miles west of Coralville, Iowa. The collision occurred late yesterday morning. You have to wonder if the semi-truck driver was texting or talking on a cell phone.
One of my good clients is a road crew member injured on I-380. Since looking at that case and driving through other Interstate road construction on I-35, I-80, I-235 and I-380 it shocks me how distracted drivers are when negotiating through the construction zone. People driving right up to the orange cones, exceeding the speed limit, talking on their cell phones and so many other distractions while driving that I find it difficult to catalogue them all. One lady driving a State of Iowa car and the car behind her being driven by a DNR officer are both on cell phones. And I’m not talking about for a few minutes I’m talking about mile after mile after mile. More than 25 miles, when I got tired of wondering when she’d put the phone down and drove off ahead. You’d think safety officers would know better. Apparently they don’t.
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Live Tomorrow on Ridin' Dirty Radio from Los Angeles, Wrong-way Interstate Drivers
Aug 18, 2009A live radio interview will be broadcast tomorrow with Steve Lombardi, Des Moines InjuryBoard about wrong-way drivers.
Tune in tomorrow on California radio , August 19, 2009 at 1:30 pm CST as Attorney Lombardi engages in a discussion about wrong-way collisions and drunk driving habits. Steve has been running a series about wrong-way interstate driving on the InjuryBoard. You can listen live online by clicking the link on the website.
Ken Sharp and Heidi Foglesong are the shows hosts.
Join us for an interesting discussion about interstate wrong-way drivers colliding head-on with reality.
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How can drivers avoid wrong-way driving?
Aug 01, 2009How can drivers avoid wrong-way driving?
1. Don’t drive drunk.
2. 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.
3. Don’t allow vehicles to the rear to rush you.
4. Stay off the telephone when driving.
5. Don’t allow distractions to interfere with being vigilant about your driving.
6. If you’re a young driver, don’t drive when the other passengers are a distraction.
7. 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.
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What else needs to happen to reduce wrong-way collisions?
Aug 01, 2009What else needs to happen to reduce wrong-way collisions?
1. States could identify the locations of repeated wrong-way entry points. Those points could be redesigned including tire puncture equipment such as we see in use at most parking ramps.
2. The Court’s must get very tough on drunk drivers and those who cause collisions from being on cell phones (talking or texting); more than they already have been.
3. The DOT should begin an education campaign for drivers to recognize and avoid wrong-way drivers.
4. The DOT should begin an education campaign to instruct drivers what to do when a wrong-way driver approaches.
5. States should further study wrong-way avoidance road and sign designs.
6. State DOT’s should consider a different middle line design with hash marks bent in the direction of travel and against the opposing direction.
7. Juries in civil actions need to send a clear message to offenders with large punitive damage awards.
8. The DOT needs to evaluate older drivers annually for visual and mental awareness; taking away driving privileges where there is risk.
9. Lawyers need to plead punitive damages in wrong-way collisions.
10. Victims need to be educated on what to do when they are involved in a wrong-way collision.
11. Witnesses of wrong-way collisions need to get involved with identifying themselves to police officers investigating a wrong-way collision. Those witnesses may have very valuable information to helping identify the entry points, causes and preventive measures.
12. DOT accident forms need to be amended to allow the collection of information to identify characteristics associated with causing wrong-way entry points, times when wrong-way collisions are most likely to occur and driver characteristics of those likely to drive the wrong-way. Children and friends of older drivers need to get involved with identifying those likely wrong-way drivers.
13. States should consider a radio system that would allow public service interruptions, like what is done on television when a weather emergency is eminent. It wouldn’t be perfect (not all radios are on) but something is perhaps better than nothing.
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Wrong-way Collisions Practice Section Added to Lombardi Law Firm
Aug 01, 2009Today I'm adding a wrong-way practice area to the Lombardi Law Firm website. The purpose is to teach you how to stay safe when travelling in Iowa on I-80, I-35, I-235 and other interstates around the state.
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.
I became interested in this subject back in November 2008 when I wrote, Interstate Highway Safety: Part I - Ghost drivers continue to be a problem on U.S. Interstate Highways and followed up with Interstate Highway Safety - Ghost Drivers – Part II. Since then other InjuryBoard members have written and the discussion has become varied and lively. So do a search on the InjuryBoard and see what the lawyer in your state has said about wrong-way drivers or “ghost riders”.
Wrong Way Drivers Causing A Rash of Traffic Fatalities In Dallas And Austin, June 22, 2009, Brooks Schuelke
Wrong-way Drivers, June 2, 2009, Beth Janicek.
Merchants of Interstate Death or Injury: Wrong Way Drivers-Usually Drunk or Drugged, June 22, 2009, Rick Shapiro.
What are the causes of wrong-way drivers, aka “ghost riders”?
1. Alcohol or drug related driver confusion.
2. Old age and confusion.
3. Mental defect or disease.
4. Purposeful acts including attempts to commit suicide and criminals attempting to elude law enforcement officers.
5. Inexperience.
6. Signage confusion and road design. Broad medians can cause sight confusion with situational awareness.
7. GPS providing incorrect, inaccurate or confusing information.
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Wrong-way Interstate and Highway Collisions in Iowa
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