A sergeant with the Lake County sheriff's traffic unit said the event was held to show high school students that property damage, catastrophic injuries and death can result from driving drunk. The organizers scheduled the demonstration for shortly before the school's annual prom, a night when many students are tempted to drink and drive.
]]> The event began with a skit in which the students watched a high school couple receive a lecture from their parents about drunk driving. After the skit, the students assembled at the football field to watch a realistic DUI crash, which included paramedics, firefighters, police officers and medical examiners. After the crash, the students watched another skit, this time with police officers informing the fictional couple's parents about the accident. The organizers say this is to make the simulation seem as real as possible, thus reinforcing its intended message.Also included in the event was a speech from a woman whose 19-year-old son was killed in a car crash on the way home from a party in 2005. Several Lake County prosecutors also addressed the students.
According to the event coordinators, Lake County saw eight alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2011. They hope the program can help prevent more deaths by realistically portraying the negative effects of drunk driving.
It's also important to remember that driving drunk can affect more than just the driver's family. If that person hits another car or pedestrian, those people's lives can end or be irreparably harmed, and the drunk driver can be held accountable in criminal and civil court.
Source: Daily Commercial, "Mock DUI crash to demonstrate dangers," Millard K. Ives, April 30, 2012
]]>According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the serious car accident happened as the 23-year-old suspect was traveling north in The Villages at approximately 2:30 a.m. Police said the suspect was unable to maintain control of his car as he attempted a left turn, causing the vehicle to go counter-clockwise across the road. Eventually, the vehicle slammed into a median lamp post before colliding with a large tree. The car then reversed directions, spun across the road's southbound lanes and came to rest on the west shoulder.
]]> The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries. The car's 22-year-old passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. FHP investigators could not determine the man's identity for 12 hours, as he was carrying no driver's license or any other identifying items.After the suspect was released from the hospital, he was arrested and transported to jail. Authorities plan to take him to Marion County, where he will face one charge of DUI with property damage and one charge of DUI manslaughter. An FHP spokesman said that troopers felt there was enough evidence to file drunk driving charges against the man immediately, though it is unclear whether a breath or blood test was administered after the crash.
If the suspect is convicted for causing the crash, it could bolster a wrongful death lawsuit if the victim's family wished to file one. While it can be argued that the passenger should have not gotten into a car being driven by a drunk driver, he should not expect to have to lose his life.
Source: Gainsville Sun, "Man charged with DUI/manslaughter in crash that killed passenger," Joe Callahan, April 29, 2012
]]>The woman was behind the wheel of a 2004 Toyota Camry in a supermarket parking lot in the middle of the day. The Florida Highway Patrol said that she approached a stop sign in the parking lot, but instead of stopping, her vehicle bolted forward. Her car raced across the parking lot and smashed through the front of the supermarket.
]]> Witnesses said that once it crashed through the front of the building, the car traveled an additional 40 or 50 feet before it stopped just short of the checkout counters. Witnesses also said that they estimated the car was traveling at around 50 mph.The injuries of those 10 victims varied, and three individuals remain hospitalized. One of those victims is an 83-year-old man who is listed in serious condition after he was pinned under the vehicle. Shards of glass severely injured a 15-year-old girl, who had to get 32 stitches to repair her lacerated leg. An infant was also among the injured.
Police determined after an initial investigation that there were no mechanical problems with the car that could have led to the crash. One county official said that the woman was trying to hit the brake pedal as she approached the stop sign, but instead, stepped on the accelerator.
The driver is being charged with careless driving and the accident remains under investigation. While it may have been an accident, that is not enough of an excuse when people's safety is compromised.
Source: ABC News, "Woman, 76, crashes car into Florida market, injures 10," Katie Kindelan, April 18, 2012
]]>Authorities report that the serious car accident occurred as the 15-year-old victim was on his way to play basketball with his friend. Without time to act, the boy was struck by the suspect's car and killed at the scene. Several witnesses claim they saw or heard two cars engaged in a street race moments before the crash. Police say the suspect was traveling at speeds nearly two times higher than the posted speed limit. His car was reportedly heavily modified for street racing. Authorities say the car had a racing seat and tires, a roll-bar, high performance muffler and after-market steering system.
]]> The suspect's attorney said his client is regretful about the accident and has been deeply affected by its aftermath. They argued that the crash was not intentional, claiming that a pizza delivery driver suddenly pulled out in front of the suspect. This prompted him to swerve to avoid an accident, causing him to lose control of his car and strike the victim on a nearby sidewalk. They added that their client was not at risk to re-offend.The suspect's brother, who testified as a witness for the defense, offered his sympathies to the victim's family, describing how his own mother was killed in a drunk driving accident when her boyfriend crashed the couple's car into a lake. "We understand where the victim's family is coming from. We really are sorry from the bottom of our hearts," said the man. But that does not change the fact that street racing is illegal and extremely dangerous for people nearby.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Orange man gets 10 years in fatal racing crash," Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel
]]>According to reports from the Christian Post, the serious car accident occurred in November 2010, when the woman stormed out of her home following a dispute with her boyfriend and drove away at an unsafe speed. She reportedly lost control of her vehicle, causing it to slam into a mail box. Following this initial collision, the vehicle crashed into a group of three 5-year-old girls. The girls, who were triplets, were playing in a neighbor's front yard when the crash occurred.
]]> Reports say that the girls' older sister was able to push one of the triplets out of the vehicle's path before it struck, but the other two children were seriously injured in the collision. One of the girls sustained numerous broken bones and was in the hospital for 10 days. The other injured sister died on the night following the accident. Another girl, who was playing with the triplets, was also injured.The woman was initially convicted of vehicular homicide, but that charge was later dismissed. One source reports that the woman will also have her driver's license permanently suspended and will face five years of probation upon her release from prison.
While the woman blacked out at the time of the accident and claims she has no recollection of the event, medical experts who examined her testified that they did not notice anything that might have caused the woman to black out. She could just be trying to avoid responsibility for her negligent driving.
Source: Huffington Post, "Betty Jo Tagerson Sentenced To 13 Years For Killing Delaney Rossman In Car Crash," April 4, 2012
]]>According to police, the serious car accident occurred as a 34-year-old driver lost control of her vehicle upon reaching a turn in the road outside the hotel. This caused the woman's car to veer off the road, blast through a fence and hit the hotel. The impact caused two support pillars to fall. The victim was in a bathroom inside the building when the car struck. Both the woman, who was seven months pregnant, and her unborn child died at the scene. The woman's husband, who was in another restroom during the accident, sustained minor injuries.
]]> Police say the driver was transported to a nearby medical center to be treated for minor injuries. She spoke with detectives about the crash, but has been unable to offer any helpful information. She could not recall the crash, a detective explained.No charges have yet been filed in the case, but police are still conducting an investigation. They say that if the accident becomes a criminal matter, they may ask for toxicology data from the hospital that treated the driver to determine whether she might have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.
But intoxicated or not, the couple should not have had to fear dying in a freak accident such as this. They should have expected to be safe on their trip, and no one deserves to have happen to them what happened here.
Source: Miami Herald, "Pregnant woman killed by car had won trip through church," March 20, 2012
]]>Authorities have charged the man with three felony counts of failing to stop after an accident resulting in serious bodily injury and one felony count of failing to stop after an accident resulting in death. The suspect was held until he could appear before a judge.
]]> Police say the serious car accident occurred when the suspect struck four correctional officers with his SUV. The officers, who were jogging at the time of the accident, all sustained serious injuries. A 25-year-old officer was killed instantly, while the three other victims were hospitalized. A 34-year-old officer, who had to undergo surgery to treat a broken arm, and another 25-year-old officer, who suffered damaged tendons and broken ankles, have been released. At last report, a 22-year-old officer remained at a hospitalized in fair condition. He suffered a serious injury that could require his arm to be amputatedThe suspect was arrested after his attorney called police to inform them that his client wished to surrender, although the man has declined to make any statements regarding the accident. Following his arrest, police sent the suspect's SUV to a crime laboratory to be processed. The lab's technicians reportedly found shards of glass, pieces of body tissue and blood residue on the front and side of the vehicle.
The case is indeed tragic. Perhaps a life could have been saved if the driver stayed on site and tried to render aid or call for help. Fleeing the scene of an accident is never a good idea, and can lead people believe that one is not sorry for his or her actions.
Source: Post-Tribune, "Charges filed in hit-and-run that killed officer," Lori Caldwell and Christin Nance Lazerus, March 9, 2012
]]>According to officers with the Florida Highway Patrol, the child may not have been wearing an appropriate safety device at the time of the accident, likely contributing to the catastrophic injuries she sustained in the crash. Police do not believe that this was the result of negligence on the part of the girl's mother.
]]> Police say the serious car accident happened when a car drifted from a county road's northbound lane into its southbound lane, colliding with a Jeep and causing it to overturn. The car then struck another vehicle, which was carrying the young victim and her 36-year-old mother.The girl's mother was taken to a hospital to be treated for serious injuries. At last report, the FHP said the woman was in stable condition. The 60-year-old driver of the Jeep sustained minor injuries in the accident, and was taken to another facility for treatment.
Officers with the FHP reportedly took a blood sample from the first driver, as they believe the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. One trooper said the driver could have been impaired by prescription medicine, but added that the FHP would not receive the results of the toxicology test until 10 or 12 weeks after the accident.
The FHP is still conducting an investigation of the accident. No arrests have been made, pending the results of the driver's toxicology test and the completion of the authorities' inquiry into the incident. The family could use the time waiting for the toxicology results to prepare for a wrongful death lawsuit if they want to file one.
Source: WESH.com, "Child Killed in Lake County Car Accident," March 13, 2012
]]>Upon arrival at the crash site, rescue workers transported the teenager to a hospital via helicopter. He remains there and was in critical condition at last report. The 53-year-old motorcyclist who struck the boy also sustained serious injuries. Police say the motorcyclist was not wearing a protective helmet at the time of the accident.
]]> One man who lives near the site of the accident and is acquainted with the victim says he heard the collision occur, describing it as hearing "a thud."FHP investigators say the motorcyclist could have been traveling toward Daytona Beach for Bike Week when he struck the victim, but have not yet determined whether this is the case. Police said Bike Week resulted in a large increase in motorcycle traffic on the day of the accident, as motorcycle enthusiasts made their way to the large celebration, held about 50 miles northeast of Orlando.
Classmates of the victim were distressed upon hearing news of the accident during their school's morning announcements.
Depending on the results of the police investigation, there could be lawsuits filed by multiple parties. If it's determined that the child was in the wrong, the motorcyclist could have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The boy's family could return the favor if they believe the driver was at fault.
Source: WFTV.com, "Motorcyclist, teen airlifted to hospital after accident," March 9, 2012
]]>The latest charges stem from a serious car accident on in the morning of Jan. 1, 2010. According to police, the suspect struck the car of the 18- and 22-year-old victims as they returned from a party. The suspect's car was thrown into a ditch by the collision, requiring her to crawl out before being able to receive medical treatment. According to police records and court documents, she told a paramedic that she had consumed beer and rum before the accident.
]]> Due to the suspect's previous DUI conviction, it was illegal for her to be drinking and driving at all. Regardless of her history, however, police claim that her blood alcohol content was 0.185 percent shortly after the crash, more than twice Florida's legal limit.The suspect reportedly hesitated when a judge asked for her plea, but she ultimately pled guilty to two charges of DUI manslaughter. When she did so, the families of the victims reportedly began hugging each other and fighting back tears.
The woman may be allowed to leave the state to visit family before serving her prison sentence, but a judge warned her that she could serve as much as 30 years if she fails to follow the rules of her temporary release. She is currently required to wear an electronic tracking device, and her driver's license has been revoked.
The woman's troubles may not be over, though. A guilty plea could strengthen a wrongful death lawsuit, if either of the victims' families wanted to file one.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Apopka woman pleads guilty, will serve 10 years for driving drunk in crash that killed 2," Stephen Hudak, Feb. 28, 2012
]]>However, the study also reveals less comforting news for pedestrians and bicyclists. Although they were only involved in about 3 percent of the Orlando area's accidents, pedestrians killed by cars accounted for nearly 30 percent of all of the region's traffic deaths. Bicyclists killed by cars accounted for around 3.5 percent of the area's total traffic fatalities, while bicyclists were involved in less than two percent of the recorded accidents.
]]> According to Transportation for America, Central Florida has been deemed the United States' most dangerous area for pedestrians for the last two years. An official with the Florida Bicycle Association blames the design of the region's roads, which he says are aimed at moving motor vehicles as quickly as possible. The official argued that this "cultural bias" makes traveling on foot or by bicycle exceedingly dangerous.Overall traffic deaths in Orlando have been declining for several years, falling from their 2004 total of 322 to 196 in 2010, a drop of nearly 40 percent. Traffic fatalities rose to 213 in 2011, but an engineer with MetroPlan says that figure is likely a statistical anomaly and does not accurately represent the area's traffic safety. If anything, he said, recent cutbacks in road-widening and other similar traffic improvement efforts have reduced overall speeds on highways and local streets. He explained that traffic congestion slows motorists and makes severe car accidents less likely, leading to fewer traffic deaths.
But slower traffic does not mean that pedestrians and bicyclists are any safer. The size disparity between a car and a pedestrian or bike inherently makes a crash extremely dangerous.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Study: Local roads grow ever safer, but not for cyclists, walkers," Dan Tracy, Feb. 26, 2012
]]>Currently, those aged 65 and older make up 20 percent of Florida's driving population. This number is expected to rise to 25 percent in less than two decades. Safety advocates note that this increase may contribute to more senior car accident fatalities in the future.
]]> Though motor vehicle accidents can happen to anyone at any time and at any age, those driving in an unfamiliar state may be especially prone. For many Florida residents, this is exactly the case. Much of the state's 65-and-older population is composed of persons who are new to the region, having moved to the Sunshine State to live out their retirement. Others ostensibly may be snow birds, traveling to Florida for the winter.Across the nation, baby boomers are living longer and driving older. As this occurs, some believe that changes to transportation programs are in order. The organization Floridians for Better Transportation is one such group. Possible changes might include improved signage or safer automobiles.
In Texas, 10.7 senior deaths were reported for every 100,000 drivers. This number was around 9.9 in Florida and 6.9 in California. The TRIP study made no recommendations for heightened restrictions on senior drivers, but it's clear that government needs to do something to either make driving safer or create incentives for seniors to use alternate transportation. The alarming numbers don't just affect seniors; they affect all drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Source: NBC Miami, "Florida Has Highest Number of Seniors Killed in Car Accidents: Study" Karen Franklin, Feb. 24, 2012
]]>The three-month investigation revealed that nearly 800 officers from across the state have been cited for driving at speeds of up to 130 mph on state highways, many of whom were off duty at the time. Since 2004, such driving has resulting in at least 320 crashes and 19 fatalities. One serious car accident uncovered by the investigation involved a Florida officer who collided with a college student, leaving the young man with permanent brain damage.
]]> An assistant chief with one Florida police department explained that some of the speeding incidents may be explained by officers being called into work for emergencies, but conceded that some officers speed because they know they likely do so without facing punishment. In fact, more than half of the incidents covered by the report involved officers who were traveling to and from work, responding to routine, non-emergency calls or traveling outside of their jurisdiction. Several sheriffs' deputies were found to have excessively sped, but it is difficult to determine whether they were in or out of their jurisdictions at the time.According to the investigation, many officers that are punished face discipline from their departments, but are often allowed to keep their jobs. Criminal charges for such offenses are reportedly rare. Only one officer involved in such accidents received a jail sentence, with a length of just 60 days.
This information is probably of little solace to the families of victims. They may want to pursue wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits against the police departments.
Source: Sun-Sentinel, "Cops among Florida's worst speeders, Sun Sentinel investigation finds," Sally Kestin and John Maines, Feb. 11, 2012
]]>Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol say the serious car accident occurred at around 1:42 a.m. as Stoudemire's 35-year-old brother was traveling along Route 27 at a "high rate of speed." The man's SUV reportedly collided with the back of a tractor-trailer. The victim died at the scene.
]]> It is unclear exactly what caused the fatal crash, but police noted that the 35-year-old victim was not wearing a seat belt, which likely contributed to his death. Investigators are currently awaiting the results of a toxicology test, though they have not said whether they suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.Upon hearing news of the crash, Stoudemire took an immediate leave of absence, missing several scheduled games. Following his first missed game, Stoudemire tweeted that he was proud of his team despite "going through hard times."
There are still numerous facts that need to be discovered before a ruling can be issued on who was responsible for the accident. Did the tractor-trailer stop suddenly? Was Stoudemire's brother following too closely? Were drugs or alcohol involved on the part of either driver? If the tractor-trailer driver was injured, he should consider consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney, who could help him decide whether or not he could make a claim for personal injury. Stoudemire's brother's family may also want to consult with an attorney.
Source: ESPN, "Amare Stoudemire's brother dies," Feb. 6, 2012
]]>One such car accident that happened in Orlando this week has left a 9-year-old boy in critical condition after he was hit by a car while riding his bike. According to police, the boy and his mother were crossing Orange Blossom Trail near the intersection with Wakulla Way when a northbound car being driven by a 19-year-old male hit the boy.
]]> According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the boy and his mother were not using a crosswalk when the accident happened, but it was likely that they were near one since they were close to an intersection.According to the teen driver, he hit his brakes but did not have enough room to stop in time. The boy was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital, and no further update on his condition was available.
According to police, charges are pending in the accident. Presumably police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. According to Florida law, pedestrians crossing outside of a crosswalk are expected to yield to vehicles, but it is unknown if the driver was speeding or violating any other traffic laws.
The family of the boy may want to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer, who can answer questions about whether or not pursuing a personal injury lawsuit to recovery monetary damages for medical expenses is an option.
Source: My Fox Orlando, "9 yr old struck by car critical," Feb. 8, 2012
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