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Truck Accidents

Trooper lucky to be alive after fiery crash

A Tennessee Highway Patrol sergeant barely survived after his cruiser was struck by a flatbed truck in Knoxville earlier this week. The reason he did: quick action from a nearby ambulance crew and a Knoxville police officer who arrived at the scene of the truck accident seconds after it happened.

The patrol officer was in his cruiser on the westbound shoulder of Interstate 40 near Walker Springs Road when the accident happened. He had just completed a traffic stop and was completing paperwork when his car was struck.

The car reportedly was hit in the rear, was shoved across three lanes of traffic, spun and hit the concrete median wall, where it caught fire. The ambulance crew that had been following about a quarter-mile behind the truck stopped immediately and attempted to free the trooper from the wreckage.

He was unconscious in his seat as the flames crept closer. He had to be cut from his seatbelt while the crew subdued the flames with fire extinguishers. By the time they got him out the flames had spread to the driver’s seat.

According to KnoxNews.com, he’s still in critical condition, having suffered a brain injury, second-degree burns to his back and neck, a fractured neck and spine, lung damage from smoke inhalation and broken ribs.

The driver of the truck, who assisted with the man’s rescue, probably fell asleep at the wheel, causing the crash. He’s looking at felony charges of reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. He may also face misdemeanor charges of failing to comply with the move-over law and failing to exercise due care.

Source: KnoxNews.com, “THP trooper’s rescue from fiery I-40 crash was ‘game of seconds’,” Hayes Hickman and Don Jacobs, March 14, 2012

Categories
Car Accidents

As we spring forward, drivers may want to use caution

There might be a reason people get grumpy about losing an hour of sleep as we “spring forward” with Daylight Savings Time. While an hour might not seem like a huge difference, the shift in sunlight can upset a person’s circadian rhythm. And that, believe it or not, can lead to car accidents and other potential mishaps.

The shift can be difficult, especially for people who have a tough time in the morning hours as it is. The time change can actually be more difficult for people than shifting a time zone while traveling, says the director of a sleep and mood disorders laboratory.

According to an interesting ABC News article, the body clock, which is a part of the brain that generates the sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, can get thrown off with less light in the morning and extra light in the evening. The circadian rhythm needs a “signal” of sorts to reset every day. People can feel exhausted when their light-dark and sleep-wake cycles don’t line up. This is what can lead to accidents and other problems.

There are ways to adjust for people who are prone to problems. The director of the sleep and mood disorders laboratory says that avoiding evening sunlight shortly after the time change can help, as can absorbing the morning sunlight after the change. That means actually getting up at dawn to be in the light and not merely sleeping by a window.

What do you think? Is the Daylight Savings change something you barely notice, or does it always feel exhausting to you?

Source: ABC News, “Daylight Savings Time 2012: How to spring forward,” Katie Moisse, March 9, 2012

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Charges may be pending in crash that injured motorcyclist

When motorists don’t react quickly enough to traffic conditions, such as abrupt starts and stops, serious accidents can occur. When accidents like that involve motorcyclists, riders are particularly vulnerable to injuries. With minimal equipment to protect them, they are at risk if they are involved in crashes with multiple vehicles. A three-vehicle accident that left a motorcyclist in critical condition in Tennessee is currently being investigated, and charges may be pending against one of the drivers.

The motorcycle accident happened earlier this week on Highway 58 in Chattanooga. A motorist was in the center turn lane waiting to turn into a Hardee’s restaurant. Meanwhile, a 24-year-old woman was driving north in the left lane on the highway when she apparently didn’t react appropriately to halting traffic and swerved into the turn lane, striking the vehicle that was waiting to turn.

According to WRCB TV, the impact caused her to veer into the southbound lane near the 4800 block of Highway 58, where she collided with a 57-year-old motorcyclist. He was reportedly taken to Erlanger Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. The extent of his injuries wasn’t reported.

Many news sources report that investigators will attempt to reconstruct the crash to determine if charges are appropriate against the driver who lost control of her vehicle. It’s not known if alcohol might have been a factor in the accident. Blood tests were taken after the crash, which could also impact potential charges.

Source: WRCB TV, “Motorcyclist seriously injured in three vehicle accident,” Gary Poole, March 6, 2012

Categories
Car Accidents

Alleged street racing leads to serious crash injuries

Racing on public streets is dangerous for a lot of reasons. Drivers who do it are not only putting their own life in danger, but the lives of nearby motorists as well.

Two young drivers were street racing in Knoxville recently, according to witnesses. That apparently led to a head-on accident that severely injured two people.

The accident happened on State Route 394 in Blountville recently. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, witnesses say two juveniles in separate vehicles were racing on a recent afternoon. One of the vehicles, a Honda Accord, apparently passed a slower vehicle and veered into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on with a Chevrolet pick-up truck driven by a 62-year-old man from Kingsport. Both he and the young man sustained injuries.

Charges are pending an investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, according to the Times News.

The pickup truck driver’s wife says the man was hospitalized for several days. He suffered a variety of injuries, including a broken bone above his ankle that protruded from his skin. He also suffered several broken ribs, among other injuries. He was being treated at Bristol Regional Medical Center.

The young driver, who is a 17-year-old high school student, was injured as well. He was in a medically induced coma at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He apparently required at least two days of surgery for treatment of his injuries. His most serious injury was thought to be a tear to his aorta.

Source: Times News, “Juvenile victim of Blountville crash remains in coma, second victim still hospitalized,” Rain Smith, March 1, 2012

Categories
Motorcycle Accidents

Changes to Tennessee helmet law left behind

It’s a question debated by motorcyclists and safety advocates alike: Should motorcycle riders have a choice when it comes to wearing a helmet? A recent bill that would have ended helmet laws for those over 21 was withdrawn by state lawmakers this week.

That means that motorcyclists who enjoy the freedom of riding without helmets have experienced a setback. But safety advocates, as well as some state lawmakers, believe that helmets really do save lives when motorcycle accidents occur.

Many motorcyclists simply don’t want restrictions regarding the way they ride, despite studies that have shown the severe brain trauma that can result from accidents in which riders aren’t wearing helmets.

One Tennessee rider says he always wears a helmet. Once, he went around a curve too fast and landed on his head on a gravel portion of a road. He thinks his helmet probably saved his life.

He’s not alone, but others simply think helmets block their vision. As one rider tells Volunteer TV, “Helmets are vision impairing. When you have a helmet coming up to here, your peripheral vision is shot.” Others say helmets take the fun and spontaneity out of riding, and others just don’t want the government telling them what they can and cannot do.

Others argue that it’s not worth the risk. Even at low speeds, motorcyclists can suffer severe brain injuries if they are involved in an accident, many of which are long-lasting.

Whether riders like it or not, laws are not changing for the time being.

Source: Volunteer TV, “Lawmakers pull bill; abandon changes Tennessee helmet law,” Sara Shookman and Kate Burgess, Feb. 28, 2012

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Safety advocates alarmed by increase in teen driving deaths

Recently we shared a post about predictors of when teens could be involved in car crashes. Now a new study is suggesting that teen traffic deaths actually increased in the U.S. in the first half of 2011. If the numbers stayed that way in the second half of the year, it would be the first such yearly increase in several years.

Safety advocates are concerned with the numbers, and for good reason. There were 211 fatal car accidents involving teenager drivers in the first half of 2011. According to a New York Times article, fatal crashes involving 16-year-olds increased from 80 to 93 when compared with the year before. There were 118 deadly accidents involving 17-year-old drivers, up from 110 compared to the first half of 2010.

So, why is this happening after so many years of decline? One possible explanation is the improving economy. While the tough economy may have prevented some teens from paying to get their license or from purchasing gas, the gradual turnaround could mean that more teens are driving regularly for the first time.

A chief scientist with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also believes the effects of graduated licensing laws, which are designed to protect teens, may be wearing off. He views the new data as a “wake-up call” to the states that saw an increase in teen traffic deaths. Overall, 23 states reported increases, while 19 saw decreases and eight reported no change.

More could be done, the scientist says, noting that every state could institute improvements that would help protect teen drivers.

Source: New York Times, “Fatalities among teenage drivers rose in first half of 2011, study finds,” Tanya Mohn, Feb. 16, 2012

Categories
Truck Accidents

Tennessee DOT aims for faster accident cleanup

When a big crash on the road in front of you occurs, it can not only be time-consuming to get around, but it can prove dangerous for drivers who don’t see it. Long delays that have left drivers virtually stranded after car accidents in Tennessee, and Knox County in particular, recently have led the Tennessee Department of Transportation to aim for faster cleanups.

A truck accident late last year, for example, left some drivers stranded for 12 hours overnight. That accident, which involved a potato truck on Interstate 40, prompted the commissioner of TDOT to issue a public promise to make cleanups faster.

He says changes have been implemented and guidelines have been set to avoid that type of situation in the future. Everyone’s responsibilities are said to be more “written out” so everyone knows what to do in the event of an accident. A TDOT spokesperson says that communication is key when these crashes occur.

One particular goal is to have all accidents cleared within 90 minutes. That may seem like a far cry from the 12 hours cleanup efforts took after the potato truck crash.

The goal is to not only cut down on time that delays other drivers, but to help ensure their safety as well. Perhaps the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security sums it up best. He tells Volunteer TV, “We have an obligation to the people of this state and the motorists traveling our roadways to improve our operations and communication.”

Source: Volunteer TV, “Plan released on how to clear accidents faster,” Kyle Grainger, Feb. 16, 2012

Categories
Car Accidents

Data shows teen driving habits can be predictor of car crashes

If the results of a new study are any indication, parents shouldn’t just brush it off when they notice their teenage children making sharp turns or braking abruptly when they drive. It shouldn’t be surprising, but the study finds that this kind of driving pattern often leads teens to be involved in car accidents.

Researchers with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development used cameras and computers to determine g-force events while teens drove. The study followed 42 new teen drivers across an 18-month period, according to a Reuters Health article.

The study revealed that an increase in g-force events, such as sharp turns and screeching halts, led to an increase in car accidents or near crashes. Of the 68,000 driving trips the teens took, 37 involved crashes. There were also 242 incidents that nearly led to accidents.

What researchers took away from the study is that teens’ driving patterns can be predictors of whether or not they will be involved in accidents. That means parents should follow their instincts if they feel their son or daughter is developing some bad driving habits.

One thing parents can do is give their children feedback about their driving if they notice anything amiss. They can also ask them not to drive in cases of extreme weather until they get a little more experience behind the wheel. A more extreme measure might be purchasing an electronic device that can give feedback about a teen’s driving, although they are expensive and not necessarily practical.

Source: EmpowHer.com, “Risky starts and stops predict teen crashes,” Feb. 20, 2012

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

State upholds firing of trooper who drive past deadly wreck

We recently wrote a post about a state trooper being sued by the family of a man who died in a serious car wreck. They’ve claimed the trooper was pursuing the man and didn’t bother to stop to render aid when he crashed into a tree. The trooper apparently drove past the crash and pulled over, returning several minutes later.

The trooper was ultimately sent a letter of termination at the end of January. He appealed that decision, but the firing was upheld this week by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, according to WATE’s website.

After the November crash, investigators decided the trooper did in fact fail to stop and give aid to the man after his car crashed. While the chase itself was determined to be in accordance with the policies of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the trooper’s actions after the pursuit, which are the subject of the family’s lawsuit, are what led to his dismissal.

Sources say the ruling is based on the trooper’s apparent violations of Human Resources policies, as well as the rules and policies of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

The trooper will be relieved of duty as of Feb. 20, although he can appeal the most recent decision. It would appear that the THP is firm in its stance, however. According to WATE, the commissioner of the Department of Safety says that the trooper’s conduct after the crash “was a poor representation of the honorable men and women who serve on the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”

Source: WATE, “Department of Safety upholds termination of highway patrol trooper,” Feb. 14, 2012

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Accident shows dangers of driving in construction zones

A tragic accident in Sullivan County last week shows how hazardous it can be to be in a construction zone, and not just for drivers. While motorists must be aware of nearby equipment and particularly the workers operating the equipment, construction workers also need to keep an eye out for their own safety.

The car accident happened on Highway 75 near Sam Gammon Road. In the area there is a highway expansion project, where construction crews are widening the road in Washington and Sullivan counties, according to TriCities.com.

A little after 3 p.m. on a recent afternoon, a woman driving a 1997 Honda Accord reportedly collided with a construction worker who was carrying a 15-foot pipe on his shoulder. The pipe apparently obscured his vision and he did not see the vehicle coming.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 49-year-old man died from his injuries. The man, who was from Hampton, worked for Summers Taylor Inc., whose crews were performing the road widening.

After performing an investigation, the THP reportedly decided not to file charges against the woman because the worker walked into the path of her vehicle while his vision was obstructed by the pipe.

The driver was not injured in the accident.

In construction zones, it’s always best to use caution and slow down to directed speed limits. In cases like this, a driver might not be able to avoid an accident, but the risk of injury is definitely lowered when traveling at a lower speed.

Source: TriCities.com, “Update: No charges will be filed against driver in Hwy 75 construction worker death,” George Jackson and Josh Smith, Feb. 9, 2012