DRUNKS ARE OUT IN FORCE DURING THE WEEKENDS: DRIVER CHARGED IN DEADLY ORANGEBURG COUNTY CRASH IN SOUTH CAROLINA

MARCH 22, 2015

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW)

South Carolina Highway patrol reports a two-car collision ended in one death on March 21 around 1:30 a.m. 

Troopers say the cars, a 2001 Cadillac and a 2009 Chevrolet were traveling north on US Highway 21 near Branchville. The Chevrolet attempted to pass the Cadillac, and side-swiped the car when it swerved back in the lane, they say.

According to the Highway Patrol, the Chevrolet overturned, and the passenger was ejected and died. 

The driver of the Chevrolet, Stephen Colter, 27, has been charged with felony DUI, troopers say.

The investigation by Highway Patrol and MAIT team is ongoing.

LATE NIGHT HEAD-ON COLLISION IN SABINE PARISH, LOUISIANA KILLS TEEN DRIVER, INJURES THE SECOND DRIVER

MARCH 22, 2015

SABINE PARISH, LA. (KTBS)

A late night head-on collision in Sabine Parish killed a teen from Florien and injured another teen from Many.

Louisiana State Police say it happened on LA Hwy 118 near the Sabine/Natchitoches Parish line about 11:40 p.m. Saturday night. 

The crash involved a 2010 GMC pickup, driven by 16-year-old Kelby D. Pilcher, and a 2008 Chevrolet pickup, driven by 18-year-old Michael S. Fair. 

Police say the GMC was eastbound on LA Hwy 118 when Pilcher lost control and crossed the center line into the westbound lane, colliding with Fair's truck.

Pilcher was wearing his seat belt, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fair was also wearing his seat belt and was taken to Sabine Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Routine toxicology tests are pending. The crash remains under investigation.  It looks like that Pilcher was drunk and/or was going too fast.  What a shame, a young life to be wasted like that.

Source: http://www.ktbs.com

1 DEAD, 2 CRITICAL AFTER MUNSON HIGHWAY AND HIGHWAY 4 COLLISION IN FLORIDA

MARCH 22, 2015

MILTON, FLORIDA

One person was killed and two were critically injured in a two-vehicle crash at the Munson crossroads east of Jay Saturday afternoon.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 22-year old driver of a 1999 four-door Hyundai was northbound on Munson Highway and failed to yield right of way by entering Highway 4 and the path of a 2006 Ford driven by 26-year old Nicholas Kotona of Jay.  There is a stop sign on Munson Highway at the intersection with Highway 4.   

Kotona attempted unsuccessfully to avoid the collision; his pickup rolled several times following the crash.

The driver of the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene.  His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin by the FHP.

A passenger in the Hyundai, 22-year old Javier Calderon-Hernanadez of Milton, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Kotona was also transported to Sacred Heart in critical condition.

Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of an ongoing Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigation.

DRUNK DRIVERS ARE OUT IN FORCE DURING THE WEEKENDS: ONE DRUNK COLLIDES WITH A SECOND DRUNK AT ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY. 2 SERIOUSLY INJURED

MARCH 22, 2015

ROCKVILLE, CENTRE, LONG ISLAND, NY

Bail was set at $5,000 cash or bond Sunday for an Oceanside man charged with drunken driving after crashing his vehicle into another intoxicated driver's car in Rockville Centre early Saturday, police said.

Neither driver was hurt but two passengers in the woman's vehicle were seriously injured, police said.

The drivers were identified as Peter Serra, 34, of 3309 Balsam St., and Melody E. Thompson, 38, of 275 West Merrick Rd., Valley Stream. Both were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead and charged with driving while intoxicated. 

Thompson was released on her own recognizance. Serra, who is also charged with first degree vehicular assault and reckless driving, was being held in the Nassau County jail.

According to a police report, the crash occurred at 4:55 a.m. on Merrick Road near Sunrise Highway. Serra was driving his 2012 Volkswagen sport utility vehicle west in the eastbound lane of Merrick Road 100 yards west of Windsor Avenue when he struck Thompson's 2011 Toyota as she traveled east.

Police said there was a 30-year-old woman in the front passenger seat of Thompson's car who was in critical condition after suffering multiple leg fractures and head trauma. A 29-year-old woman who was a passenger in the backseat was in serious condition after suffering a left arm fracture and head trauma.

Both victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their names and where they live were not made available Sunday morning.

Both cars were impounded.

MORE DEAD CLAIMED BY THE DEADLY US ROADS: 3 DEAD FOLLOWING MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH ON ROUTE 50 IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

MARCH 21, 201

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

Three people are now confirmed dead following Saturday’s multi-vehicle accident on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County.

Susannah Badders, 19, and Jason P. Simpkins, 19, were flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after the collision. Maryland State Police say Susannah Badders and Simpkins were pronounced dead Sunday.

Badders’ father, 63-year-old Raymond Badders, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Maryland State Police said Raymond Badders was a passenger in the rear seat of a Toyota Corolla driven by Susannah Badders. Simpkins was seated in the front passenger seat.

On Saturday, troopers said the crash happened when a Nissan X-Terra, driven by Travis M. Ala, swerved into the Corolla, causing the vehicle to overturn and collide with another vehicle. The X-Terra is registered to the Takoma Park Police Department, where Ala is employed. He was off-duty at the time of the crash, and officials said Sunday that he is on administrative leave.

No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

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ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

One person is dead and several others were injured after an accident on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County on Saturday afternoon.

The accident closed the highway for nearly six hours and caused significant delays.

The crash occurred on the eastbound lanes of Route 50 near Route 665/Aris T. Allen Boulevard around 2:45 p.m. Maryland State Police say the driver of a 2011 Nissan X-Terra, driven by Travis M. Ala, swerved into a 2007 Toyota Corolla, causing the vehicle to overturn and collide with another vehicle.

A passenger in the rear seat of the Corolla, identified as Raymond Badders, 63, of Manchester, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, Badders’ daughter, and another passenger were flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The extent of their injuries is unknown. The medevac lifted off the highway around 3:30 p.m.

Maryland State Police say the vehicle that Ala was driving is registered to the Takoma Police Department, where Ala is employed. He was off-duty at the time. Ala was transported by ambulance to Anne Arundel County Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

An accident occurred earlier Saturday afternoon, causing delays on the eastbound lanes of Route 50 near Route 450 in Parole. Police say Ala apparently did not observe the backup in time to allow him to stop. He swerved into the merge lanes from Interstate 97, where he collided with the Corolla that was stopped in heavy traffic.

Traffic on Route 50 East and Interstate 97 South was diverted toward Riva Road past the accident investigation during the afternoon. The backup on Route 50 extended from Route 424 toward the accident at Aris T. Allen Boulevard, over six miles. The highway was reopened at 8:30 p.m.

No charges have been filed. A detailed crash investigation and reconstruction will be conducted by the State Police Crash Team.

Source: http://wtop.com

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  http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2015/03/united-states-still-has-one-of-highest.html

UNITED STATES STILL HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ROAD ACCIDENT DEATH AND INJURY RATES IN THE WORLD: 34,000 DIE AND 2.5 MILLION INJURED EACH YEAR.

Despite the improvements in road safety, the United States has one of the highest death rates at about 1 person dead per 10,000 people. Unfortunately, only undeveloped countries have higher death rate.

Some states, such as Texas and West Virginia (sorry, WV, despite your tremendous progress in traffic safety, you are still at the top of the worst-death-rate list) have death rates of nearly 1.5 percent, i.e., fifty percent more people die compared to the national death rate.

Approximately 34,000 people are getting killed each year.  In the 1950s and 1960s, about 55,000 people used to die on the roads – so, there has been improvement in the number of dead.

However, the number of injured is rising.  Roughly 2.5 million are injured (yes, you read it correctly – 2.5 million injured) per year.  That is, 1 percent (1%) of the population that is eligible to drive is injured every year.

It is worse than a war zone out there.  So, please be safe and be on the lookout for weaving-through-the-traffic drivers, crazy drivers, reckless drivers, sick drivers, medical-condition drivers, sleepy drivers, negligent drivers, stupid drivers, careless drivers, drunk drivers, speeding drivers, drugged drivers, texting drivers, talking-on-the-phone drivers, looking-at-the-GPS drivers, hurry-hurry drivers, tailgating drivers, upset drivers, eating-while-driving drivers, putting-the-lipstick-on-while-driving drivers, and so on.