The trial of the socially prominent 45-year-old woman gripped her community. She was convicted of hitting and killing a 38-year-old man with her luxury SUV on Aug. 23, 2011, striking him as he put gas in his parked vehicle along the side of the highway. The woman contends she didn't see him.
]]> She now awaits sentencing on her conviction of two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, leaving the scene and failing to call for help.The family did not announce the amount of the settlement, but their representative said that no amount of money will replace the man. A Laotian immigrant, the family of the 38-year-old man relied on him. He looked after his parents, providing them with money and meals. As the oldest son, he also took responsibility for his siblings.
The representative said the settlement totaled more than $50,000, which was the base amount listed in the wrongful death suit. Area experts said the settlement could have reached at least $1 million, depending on the driver's insurance policy and whether her attorneys believed a jury would have given a substantial settlement.
In the suit, the family said it had hired an accident expert to prove that the woman undoubtedly would have seen the man and that she failed to exercise proper caution while driving.
Source: Star Tribune, "Phanthavong family settles suit against Sensers," Larry Oakes, May 4, 2012
]]>On the night of the accident, the driver, his younger brother and friends spent an evening at the home of a 15-year-old girl. The guests were ordered to leave when the girl's father arrived home.
]]> The teenagers had piled into a 2005 Dodge Magnum driven by the convicted teen, then 18. The group headed to a spot that offered a view of Washington, D.C., at night, according to testimony. A witness said the group had also discussed going "hill hopping," which means driving fast enough that the car goes airborne when driving over the top of a hill.All of the passengers sat in the back, one of them on a child-safety seat and none wearing seat belts. Even though the man told officers he was traveling near the speed limit of 40 mph, one of the passengers estimated the car traveled as high as 70 mph. According to prosecutors, as the group drove down Logmill Road in Prince William County, the man hit a deer, which caused him to lose control of the car, which barreled into a pair of trees.
The two female passengers, both 15, died as a result. The car's computer system showed the car could have been traveling as fast as 72 mph.
At issue in the trial was whether the man was speeding at the time he struck the deer, as prosecutors contend, or if he hit the deer and then accelerated as he lost control of the car.
The driver could receive up to one year in jail at his June 7 sentencing. While the judge ruled the man was not criminally negligent in causing the accident, that does not mean that he was not negligent. Either way, he was driving too fast for conditions and could be held liable in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: Inside NoVA, "Driver guilty of reckless driving in fatal Logmill Road crash," Amanda Stewart, April 24, 2012
]]>The man, 75, died in Martinsville, Virginia, after the accident on the road at Patrick Henry Community College. The college had employed the man for a dozen years as a maintenance worker, and he died while on the job.
]]> State police said the accident happened as the man drove the Toro lawn mower on Patriot Avenue during the morning commute to classes at the speed of 5 to 7 mph. As the mower went around a curve and reached the top of the hill, a 1998 Honda Accord clipped the lawn mower's left rear side, throwing the man from the mower. Police did not release the name or age of the Accord's driver, citing the pending investigation, but did say the driver was a female student.Although the investigation continues, police have preliminarily estimated that the female driver was not speeding. A prosecutor will review the case to determine whether the woman will face charges, state police said.
A state trooper, however, told a local newspaper that the accident resulted from a "perfect storm" of conditions. Woods and a blinding morning sun combined to keep the Accord driver from seeing the lawn mower until it was too late. The trooper said many of the witnesses he interviewed said the sun can often create havoc on that stretch of road.
A campus official said leaders of Patrick Henry Community College will study road conditions, but in the meantime, the man's family will want to know whether there was more the woman could have done to avoid the accident.
Source: Martinsville Bulletin, "Trooper: Wreck was 'perfect storm,'" Paul Collins, April 19, 2012
]]>The young man had reported for work at a minor-league baseball stadium bordering the north of Virginia. He took a seat in the back of the utility vehicle, atop bags of trash. As the driver made a left-hand turn, the man fell out, hitting his head on the pavement. Police said he sustained a fractured skull. He was transported to a local hospital, then transferred to a different facility in Washington, D.C., where he died.
]]> The state department of Occupational Safety and Health has started an investigation, a representative said. Findings will be kept confidential until the agency issues a report.Friends at his school remembered him the day after his death by wearing orange, his favorite color. He was a member of the football, lacrosse and wrestling teams at his high school.
The school summoned grief counselors to help fellow students to cope with his death.
Now the teen's family will likely want to know how the accident happened and if anyone can be held responsible. Were there workplace safety standards not being followed? Would stricter rules have prevented the accident? Was the teen being properly supervised by an adult at the time of the accident? The accident seems preventable, so it's important to now find out what can be done to prevent it from happening again.
Source: The Herald-Mail, "Smithsburg High senior has died following accident at Municipal Stadium," Dan Dearth, April 12, 2012
]]>The 56-year-old woman had left her home for a quick walk to the store when she became the victim of an apparent hit-and-run accident. These kinds of accidents are especially tragic, because a family seeking justice does not know who to blame.
]]> Police said they are searching for a silver car with damage to the front end that would have been in the neighborhood.The woman's husband said he had asked her to wait for him to drive her after he finished his work around the house. Still, the woman was comfortable walking to the convenience store at night, her daughter said.
When the woman did not come home in a reasonable time, her family tried to reach her on her cellphone. When her husband glimpsed the lights coming from the site of the accident, he drove there and found out his wife had been hit.
The woman's daughter said her mother had a flashlight with her as she walked along the street. She wondered why the driver did not see the woman since she was wearing clothing with light and bright colors, including a jacket that partially sparkled.
Family members said they hoped police would locate the driver to bring closure for the family. In the meantime, they had to make arrangements to bury the woman, who her daughter said the family would remember for her big heart.
Source: News Virginian, "Family says pedestrian accident victim was walking to store," Bob Stuart, April 9, 2012
]]>The accident occurred when a dump truck loaded with sludge crossed the center lane on U.S. Highway 60 and crashed into a truck hauling pine logs, according to Virginia State Police. The force caused the log truck to tip over, leave the road and catch on fire.
]]> The drivers of both trucks died, as did a passenger riding in the log truck. Police identified the driver of the dump truck as a 23-year-old man from Virginia. The log truck driver and the passenger had not yet been identified.The accident, which occurred on Route 60 in Powhatan County, Virginia, ultimately involved five trucks.
After the initial collision, a flatbed tractor-trailer that also carried lumber hit the dump truck, causing it to overturn. Then, another sludge truck drove over the spilled logs, hit the dump truck and rolled over. The final vehicle, also moving lumber, hit the side of one of the log trucks and ran over the logs that covered the pavement.
The injured driver of the flatbed tractor-trailer, 25, was flown to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The two other drivers sustained minor injuries. One was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and the other was treated at the scene.
Area residents told the local television station NBC 12 that the road is the site of frequent truck accidents. Virginia Department of Transportation records show that 18 accidents happened between 2008 and 2010. While the number of accidents might not sound alarming, the rate of injuries could cause concern. This area has 50 percent more serious accidents than do similar highways, according to reports.
If that is true, the state government should look into ways to make the road safer. Future drivers could be spared from the dangers of more accidents.
Source: WTVR, "Identities released in fatal Powhatan accident," Alix Bryan, March 28, 2012
]]>A recent truck accident near Staunton, Virginia, demonstrates the importance of paying full attention to everything that is happening on the road. During the early hours of the morning, a semi-truck driver was headed down an interstate highway when he suddenly swerved to avoid hitting a car. In the process, the truck's brakes locked and the massive vehicle jackknifed as it drifted toward a road construction zone.
]]> In total, the accident caused three injuries. Two men, who were standing outside of the truck at the time of the accident, were caught up in the chaos and sustained injuries. The truck driver was also injured in the commotion. All of the men involved in the incident were sent to the hospital for treatment. One of them was eventually released from the hospital, but the others are still receiving care.At the time of the initial reports, it was not certain what exactly led to the accident, so no traffic citations have been issued. Police will likely conduct an investigation to determine what caused the tractor-trailer driver to swerve and subsequently lose control of his rig. Once the final accident report is released it will be much clearer what party, if any, will be held responsible for causing the accident. At that point, law enforcement and those injured will weigh their legal options and proceed accordingly.
This accident serves as a reminder of the ongoing dangers surrounding road construction sites. As road construction projects ramp up with the summer approaching, it is important for motorists to use extra caution and workers to be on the lookout for errant drivers. Drivers can never be too careful, particularly when people are working on the roads.
Source: WHSV-TV News, "Augusta County Tractor Trailer Accident Ties Up Traffic," Elizabeth Lamb, April 2, 2012
]]>The man, a 23-year-old student at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been arraigned on a charge of aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors withdrew the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, along with charges of refusing to take a blood or breath test, and driving under the influence.
]]> In the late-February accident, the man was driving his Mazda 6 when he allegedly ran a red light and struck a Toyota Yaris. The Yaris wound up slamming into a brick building near the intersection.A 19-year-old woman in the Yaris died shortly after the crash at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Two other students riding in the car suffered injuries that were not life threatening. No one in the man's car was injured.
A Richmond police officer witnessed the collision.
Soon after the accident, the chief deputy attorney for the commonwealth said he likely would seek the upgraded charge. The man, he said, drove after drinking a substantial amount of alcohol and accelerated when heading into the intersection.
The prosecutor still does not have the toxicology tests to prove intoxication. Since the driver refused to submit to an alcohol test, authorities needed a search warrant to obtain a blood sample, and prosecutors are awaiting the results. But the prosecutor said all other evidence points to significant consumption. The driver even admitted to drinking before driving, the prosecutor said.
If convicted, the man faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Currently, he is free on $25,000 bond before his next scheduled court appearance on May 2. And even if he escapes jail time, he could be held liable in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: Times-Dispatch, "VCU student faces upgraded charge in car-crash death of fellow student," Reed Williams, March 23, 2012
]]>The 18-year-old was struck by a man driving a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee as she attempted to head to the other side of the road. The student died the following morning from her injuries.
]]> Police in the state adjacent to Virginia are continuing to investigate the accident. Police said it did not appear that alcohol or speeding caused the accident, and the 54-year-old driver has yet to face any charges. The man stopped at the accident site and cooperated with authorities, they said.School officials called the young woman's death a tragedy. Her pastor said the student was devoted to her faith and her church and the example of how every parent would want their child to grow up. She would have graduated this spring, and she was planning to enroll in Liberty University in Virginia.
The pastor said the girl's life, while brief, was not wasted. Changes at the intersection where she died could be part of her lasting legacy.
A traffic light sits at the intersection where the accident occurred, but it has no pedestrian crosswalk. Officials from the school district and law enforcement agencies said they would formally discuss whether to make any enhancements at the intersection.
The intersection is a busy one, and officials said they would discuss ways to increase safety to prevent another fatality. Previous talks between the school district and police have been more about preventing students from leaving school early than traffic issues. Without a crosswalk, it may be hard to prove that the driver was at fault, but the family could attempt to hold the local government accountable.
The accident occurred about two hours after the school day ended. She had spent the afternoon at a restaurant across the street from the school and was part of a group of friends trying to cross the street as the Jeep struck her.
Source: Charlotte Observer, "Garinger student fatally injured in traffic accident," April Bethea, March, 14, 2012
]]>As firefighters and paramedics worked to free the man from the wreckage, his heart stopped, authorities said. He later died at the nearby Anne Arundel Medical Center. The driver of the truck, a 27-year-old man, was not injured.
]]> Police continued to investigate the accident and no charges were immediately filed against the driver. The preliminary accident investigation showed that neither speeding nor alcohol led to the crash. However, running a red light is a careless, reckless act. If police find that he is at fault, he could face a wrongful death lawsuit if the victim's family wishes to file one.The man who was killed was a jazz guitarist who helped make the bossa nova form of music popular in the United States in the 1960s. After serving in the U.S. Army, he used the G.I. Bill to attend the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.
Throughout his career, he played with many of the greats in jazz music. He learned the bossa nova style after his brother, a guitarist, toured South America. Inspired, the brothers assembled a band, and in 1962, they played at a Washington, D.C., church and recorded an album, giving birth to the sound in the United States. He was a favorite among presidents, playing for Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.
Source: Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch, "Former White House Jazz Performer Dies in Accident," Jonathan Moynihan, March 7, 2012
]]>A fatal accident ended the lives of three Midwestern sorority sisters en route to the airport to catch a flight for their spring break trip to the Dominican Republic. The women were among 16 college students in a caravan of cars heading to the airport on the interstate when they collided with a car traveling the wrong way.
]]> The 69-year-old driver of the wrong-way vehicle, which erupted into flames, also died. She had no passengers in the car. Two young women in the students' car were taken to the hospital in critical condition.The wrong-way driver apparently had traveled at least seven miles, and truckers called police to report her. Police were in pursuit when her car had a near-miss with another vehicle filled with sorority sisters, then slammed into the other car at around 2:30 a.m. The young women had plane tickets for a 5:30 a.m. flight.
The topography of the highway at that point would have decreased visibility. The young women probably never saw the wrong-way car headed toward them, the local sheriff said. Investigators were continuing to piece together the accident, including trying to figure out why the older woman's car traveled in the wrong direction.
Authorities identified the deceased sorority sisters as a 19-year-old sophomore studying teacher education, a 21-year-old junior studying apparel merchandising and another 20-year-old junior. The two injured students are both 19.
This is not the first spring break tragedy to haunt the Midwestern university. Ten years ago this month, six 19-year-old students died on their way back from a spring break vacation in Florida when their van slid on a wet road and was struck by a tractor-trailer. At the time, officials said heavy rain and high winds could have caused the accident.
Source: Associated Press, "Crash kills 3 on spring break in Ohio," Kantele Franko, March 3, 2012
]]>The man, 23, allegedly was behind the wheel of a Mazda 6 that struck a Toyota Yaris ferrying four women who had dined together then visited the Catholic Campus Ministry earlier in the evening. After dropping off one passenger, the women decided to head to downtown Richmond.
]]> As a stoplight turned green, the driver of the Toyota headed through the intersection, when the Mazda struck the back passenger side of the Toyota and sent it careening into a building. Police said the man driving the Mazda had run a red light at Second and Canal streets.Paramedics arrived on the scene quickly and transported the 19-year-old passenger to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was a sophomore at VCU, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and Catholic studies.
The driver of the Yaris suffered a bruised lung, bruised kidney, bruised liver and two broken ribs. The passenger in the front seat suffered a fractured vertebra.
The driver of the Mazda, from Springfield, Virginia, also faces charges of driving under the influence and refusing to take breath and blood tests. The four people riding in his car were uninjured. No further information was available about the driver.
The VCU president announced the woman's death in a statement issued on behalf of the university. And now her family must decide whether or not to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: The Commonwealth Times, "Driver, passenger of downtown DUI wreck recall fatal moment," Mark Robinson, Feb. 25, 2012
]]>Virginia State Police and federal agents arrested the 40-year-old dispatcher in his hometown in a neighboring state. Virginia authorities were seeking extradition.
]]> The bus driver, a former resident of Northern Virginia, had already been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and faces a March 7 court appearance in connection with the May 31, 2011, accident in Caroline County, Virginia.But since the crash, the driver, 37, has maintained that he was unfit to shuttle his passengers on the overnight trip, too tired from his shift the previous night. The dispatcher, however, mandated that he drive, prosecutors say.
The prosecutor said the dispatcher was at least equally responsible as the driver for the fatalities, but authorities had a hard time tracking down the dispatcher.
The accident happened when the driver fell asleep while driving the bus along Interstate 95 in Caroline County, which is south of Fredericksburg, Virginia. As he woke up, he turned the bus, which eventually landed on its roof, police said. There were 58 passengers on board, with 53 of them transported to hospitals throughout Virginia. The women who died were from other East Coast cities
An investigation into the bus company showed that it typically sent exhausted drivers back on the highways, authorities said. The company ceased operations soon after the crash.
The bus company apparently was willing to hire drivers with less than stellar driving records. The driver in this case had been ticketed nine times for traffic offenses in Virginia over an eight-year span, state records show.
Source: The Free Lance-Star, "Bus Dispatcher Charged in Crash," Portsia Smith, Feb. 17, 2012
]]>He was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where he died the following day.
]]> The man had served the Alexandria Fire Department for six years and frequently taught classes for other first responders, including emergency medical courses at the Prince William Public Safety Academy.A local fire chief said it sometimes is overlooked that the job of a firefighter or paramedic encompasses more dangers than just the fire. He said his department would reassess how to approach similar situations, should they arise, but he was not aware of roads in his jurisdiction that had lanes divided by such barriers.
The paramedic's death jarred members of the local emergency community, and it was expected counselors would be called in to help other first responders cope with the man's tragic death. Counselors can help emergency personnel to cope mentally with both the demands of the job and their grief, the fire chief said.
In the deceased paramedic's department, the fire chief said the man had been committed to his job right to the very end of his life.
The man's wife could choose to consult with a personal injury attorney, who could determine whether or not his employer or anyone else should be held accountable for his death.
Source: Inside NoVA, "Updated: Alexandria paramedic succumbs to wounds," David Pierce, Feb. 10, 2012
]]>Youth of Virginia Speak Out, which works to encourage teenagers to drive safely, issued a report in late January, stressing the need for young people to drive cautiously. The fatalities in the first weeks of the month more than tripled the number of teens who died during the same time in 2011, according to the report.
]]> Seeking to put an end to teenage traffic fatalities, the group is urging parents and their young drivers to discuss the responsibilities that come with operating a motor vehicle. Parents should discuss these statistics with their children, the group said, and emphasize the dos and don'ts behind the wheel.· The dos: Wearing seat belts at all times and continuing to sharpen their driving skills by driving with a parent for practice, even after being granted a driver's license.
· The don'ts: Speeding and driving while distracted, such as fidgeting with the car stereo, talking on a cellphone or sending a text message.
Three January deaths in just the central part of the state were linked to speeding, according to one police officer in Lynchburg, Virginia. He said that only a week into 2012 he had to tell parents of two 17-year-old girls that their daughters were dead because of speeding.
The group said one Virginia high school also is helping by displaying a car destroyed in an accident to show teen drivers just what could happen in an accident. In addition, parents should make clear to teenagers that reckless driving could leave them liable for monetary damages for any injuries or deaths they cause in an accident.
Source: WSET-TV, "Teen Traffic Deaths Increase in 2012," Sally Delta, Jan. 26, 2012
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