Automobile Accidents

Father of Teen Killed in Selmer Drag Accident Sues

2007-07-06T07:42:33Z

The father of 15-year-old Scarlett Replogle is seeking $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages. Replogle was killed earlier this month when a drag-racing car spun out of control at a fund raising event in Selmer, Tennessee. Troy Critchley, an Australian who lives in the suburbs of Dallas, lost control of his dragster while performing an exhibition burnout. The lawsuit filed by Replogle's father names Critchley, AMS Staff Leasing Inc., Larry Price, and Cars for Kids Southern Style, Inc. as defendants.

Father of Teen Killed

]]> The suit says that Price did not obtain a permit for the parade and did not take precautions to ensure the safety of the spectators. In addition to monetary damages, the lawsuit asks that Price and Cars for Kids, the organizer of the event, not hold another event in Selmer without a detailed safety plan.

Man Beaten to Death by Crowd After Car Accident

2007-07-06T06:47:01Z

A crowd beat a man to death in Texas after a vehicle he was riding in hit and injured a young girl. Police say that between 2,000 and 3,000 people were in the area for the Juneteenth celebration when the attack occurred. The driver of the vehicle that hit the girl had stopped to check on the girl when a group of men attacked him. David Rivas Morales, the passenger in the vehicle, got out of the vehicle to help the driver when the crowd turned on him.

Man Beaten to Death by Crowd After Car Accident

]]> Morales was beaten to death by as many as 20 men. He was left lying in a parking lot. The girl who was hit was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver was able to get away from the crowd and is cooperating with investigators.

Seat Switching Alleged in Accident

2007-07-05T04:28:48Z

Five minors and a liquor store clerk who is believed to have sold alcohol to the minors are being charged in the death of high school student Samara Stricklen. Nanette LaFleur, 17, faces vehicular homicide and eight other counts while Alison Bowen, 16, is being charged with a DUI and a felony count for trying to deceive law enforcement. Van Thien Pham, 44, faces 10 counts of providing alcohol to a minor.

Seat Switching Alleged in Deadly Teenage Car Accident

]]> On March 13, a car containing LaFleur and Bowen crossed the double yellow line on West Alameda Parkway. The vehicle struck a car driven by Seth Mutschler. Mutschler suffered serious injuries, and his passenger Striklen died. The indictment against LaFleur says that she persuaded Bowen to switch places with her because the vehicle was registered to Bowen's parents. Lakewood Police Chief Ron Burns said that "Alison Bowen was identified initially as the driver when an off-duty officer arrived very shortly after the accident scene and saw Alison Bowen behind the wheel of the vehicle. The passengers in the vehicle indicated Alison Bowen was the driver."

Woman Wants $75,000 for Injuries

2007-07-04T04:10:15Z

Catherine Purser is suing Beverly Lafleur for more than $75,000 after a Texas car accident. Purser says that on November 2, 2006, she was injured in an automobile accident caused by Lafleur. The lawsuit states that the "plaintiff would show that on the aforementioned date plaintiff was the driver of a vehicle traveling west on Georgia Street when suddenly and without warning, a vehicle being driven by Lafleur failed to stop at a stop sign proximately causing the accident."

Woman Wants $75,000 Plus for Alleged Auto Collision

]]> The lawsuit says that Purser has suffered from severe and disabling injuries as a result of the accident. The lawsuit states that Lafleur is negligent for not maintaining a proper lookout, maintaining proper control of the vehicle, paying appropriate attention to the operation of the vehicle, and making a timely application of the brakes.

The Dangers of U-Haul

2007-07-02T20:29:21Z

A recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times suggests that U-Haul International's practices are leading to deadly accidents on the road. About four years ago, Marissa Sternberg rented a U-Haul trailer to move her belongings to her new school and had attached the trailer to her Toyota Land Cruiser. Sternberg's friend, Corina Maya Hollander, who was taking a turn driving, said that she felt the trailer begin to swing from side to side and she "knew something bad was going to happen. We both knew." Sternberg's Land Cruiser flipped and bounced along the road before the trailer broke free and flew off the road. Sternberg was thrown from the SUV in the accident; Hollander was able to crawl away from the wreckage. Hollander and Sternberg fell victim to "trailer sway:" a leading cause of severe towing accidents. Trailer sway occurs when a sharp gust of wind is encountered and the trailer begins to swing from side to side. Few drivers are able to regain control of their vehicles once this occurs.

Driving with Rented Risks

]]> Trailer sway has long been a concern of U-Haul. U-Haul maintains that they are "highly conservative" about safety. The safest way to tow is to tow with a vehicle that weighs significantly more than the trailer. However, bad brakes are a recurring problem in U-Haul trailers and may have contributed heavily to the Sternberg accident.

Car Accident Kills Tenn State Track Member

2007-06-29T19:43:41Z

Tennessee State University track member Joycelyn R. Gardiner was killed early Saturday morning when a car ran a red light and hit her car. Gardiner was 22 years old. 24-year-old Victor Javier Benitez was driving the car that ran the red light; he is believed to have been drinking.

Car Accident Kills Tenn State Track Member

]]> Benitez suffered only minor injuries. He remains in custody and previously had been convicted on charges of car burglary, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Siblings Die in Car Accident

2007-06-28T19:27:09Z

Jeffrey Ray and siblings Keith and Sheila Young died after the 2003 Ford Ranger in which they were riding went off the shoulder of the road at about 3:20 AM. Keith Young was driving the vehicle and overcorrected as he tried to get back onto the road, hitting a crossover, and then rolling into westbound traffic about two miles west of Greenup, Illinois.

Siblings with Hartland Ties Die in Illinois Car Accident

]]> Sheila Young and Ray were thrown from the vehicle; neither was wearing a seat belt. Ray remains in the Carle Foundation Hospital where he is listed in critical condition with "life-threatening injuries." Sheila Young and Ray were in the process of planning their April 5 wedding.

Car Hits Family, Kills WW2 Veteran

2007-06-27T19:01:44Z

An out of control vehicle struck George Wolinski, his wife, and his daughter in the parking lot of a church. Wolinski was a respected member of the community and a former member of the Argonne American Legion Post 545 in the late 1970s and had served in the army in World War II. James Kawczynski, who says he had known Wolinski for about 40 years, said that Wolinski was "proud of being in the military and serving his country."

Car Slams into Family; Man Killed Was World War II Veteran

]]> The driver of the vehicle, George Rooney, is believed to have confused the brake pedal and the gas pedal. A service will be held in honor of Wolinski so that fellow veterans can remember him.

SUV Hits Car and Kills Three

2007-06-26T22:47:02Z

Terence Papoutsakis, 34, drove his 2006 Hyundai SUV westbound on a one-way, eastbound at 80 mph. The speed limit on the road was 35 mph. Papoutsakis's vehicle hit a 1999 Ford Contour, killing the driver and two passengers in the car. Paputsakis was able to leave the accident scene without injury. Bradenton Police are working out post-crash examinations of the vehicles and talking to the state attorney's office about charges against Paputsakis.

The Sport Utility Vehicle That Struck a Car and Killed Three Occupants

]]> Anthony Shoats, Papoutsakis' passenger, was hospitalized after the accident with a broken neck. A blood sample was taken from Papoutsakis after the accident; this is the custom in all fatal accidents. Officer Sean O'Leary said that Papoutsakis has declined to speak with the police about the accident until after he has consulted with an attorney. We won't speak with (Papoutsakis) until the possibility's made available," O'Leary said. "We'll be working as diligently as possible, but we won't rush through anything."

Delgado Apologizes for Accident

2007-06-25T22:14:01Z

Edith Delgado apologized publicly for causing the car accident that killed the royal prince of Tonga, the prince's wife, and the couple's driver. Delgado is 19 years old. The car accident occurred last July and four days ago a jury unanimously agreed to acquit her of three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence associated with the accident. Delgado was only convicted on three misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Delgado Apologizes for Accident

]]> Delgado said, "a lot of people have said what they think I'm going through. But they haven't had a chance to hear it from me." The accident occurred when Delgado's Ford Mustang sideswiped the Ford Explorer in which the Tongans were riding. The SUV rolled several times and landed on its roof.

Six Killed in Charity Car Show

2007-06-24T21:42:50Z

For the last 18 years Cars for Kids has held a charity car show in Selmer, Tennessee. The event always has drawn crowds and has been a fun event for everyone involved. However, at this last weekend's event, pro drag racer Troy Warren Critchley lost control of his vehicle and the accident took the lives of six people. All of those who died were in their teens or early 20s. At least 20 others were injured.

Accident Kills 6 in Charity Car Show

]]> Other spectators at the event questioned who decided to allow the driver race down a highway that did not have guard rails to protect spectators who lined both sides of the street. Garett Moore, who witnessed the accident, said, "it ain't really safe to do anything with drag cars on a city street. They shouldn't have done it." The festival was closed after the crash. Cars for Kids holds events through the nation to raise money for charities that help children in need.

Car Crash Kills Students on Eve of Graduation

2007-06-22T21:09:41Z

Two cars carrying students home after a school-sponsored picnic collided in California. The accident killed two students and injured nine others. A Honda carrying four girls and an SUV carrying seven boys collided. The Honda then broke through the guardrail and fell down a 25-foot ravine before rolling over several times and ejecting four boys.

Student Car Crash Kills 2, Injures 9 on Eve of Graduation

]]> A spokeswoman for the sheriff said that the students had been driving too quickly and were weaving in and out of traffic. The accident occurred about half a mile from the entrance to the park where the picnic had taken place. Superintendent Arturo Delgado from the San Bernadino City Unified School said, "we are grieving. This is such a tragedy right before graduation. It reminds us how precious life can be."

Car Crash Involving NBA Player Leaves One in Coma

2007-06-21T21:27:39Z

J.R. Smith, a guard for the Denver Nuggets, has been issued two summonses after his SUV ran a stop sign and hit a car in New Jersey. Sgt. Stephen Jones, of the New Jersey State Police, says that Smith improperly passed another vehicle and did not stop before it entered an intersection. It then collided with a vehicle driven by Lynn Sinatra, 49.

Millstone Car Crash Leaves One in Coma

]]> Smith had two passengers in his SUV at the time of the accident. Smith and Andre Bell, 21, were thrown from the vehicle on impact. Neither man was wearing a seatbelt. Smith was still under hospital care as of Monday, but he was in stable condition. Bell remains in a coma as a result of the accident. The other passenger in Smith's vehicle, Carl Marshall, 23, was treated for lower back pain after the accident. Sinatra was treated for a hip injury after the accident. Smith has been issued two tickets for the accident.

NJ Works to Criminalize Car Accident Fraud

2007-06-20T20:39:39Z

New Jersey legislators are contemplating creating a bill that would impose criminal penalties on those who stage car accidents in order to perpetuate insurance fraud. The bill, State Senate bill S2426, would make staging accidents a criminal offense and would penalize those violating the law with 18 months to 10 years in jail and fines from $10,000 to $150,000.

N.J. Seeks to Criminalize Auto Accident Fraud

]]> The bill would specify that "vehicular collision fraud" could not have sentences conflicting with any other convictions. The bill also makes mention of what would happen in collision fraud where people commit two or more such acts. Richard Strokes, a regional manager and counsel for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America in New Jersey said that "it is critical that New Jersey remain a leader in fighting insurance fraud."

28 Policemen Die in Car Crash in Nigeria

2007-06-19T20:19:03Z

28 policemen and three civilians died in a car accident near Aliade in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State. The accident occurred at about 4 AM when there was a head on collision between a bus carrying mobile policemen and a truck coming from the opposite direction. The State Police Commissioner, Prince Udom Ekpoudom, said: “I am deeply sad at this moment, especially at a time like this. This is the first time I am seeing something like this. Twenty-eight able-bodied policemen at a go. I am very very sad. The whole police force is sad.”

28 Policemen Die in Auto Crash

]]> An eyewitness from the Nigerian Tribune said that people from the surrounding areas rushed in to help remove the trapped bodies from the wreckage.