Drunk & Distracted Drivers

Thursday Morning Route 209 Crash Kills One and Injures Two

Friday, July 30th, 2010

At about 1 a.m. yesterday morning, a drunk driver injured two people and killed one person and then fled the scene of the accident.  This Pennsylvania drunk driving hit and run accident happened on Route 209 in Middle Smithfield Township.

Police say that a car driven by Benjamin Warner collided with a motorcycle.  After Mr. Warner hit the motorcycle, he ran over the motorcycle driver.  The motorcycle driver was killed in the accident.  The female motorcycle passenger and a person who pulled over to help the cyclists were hurt.

Mr. Warner was found by the police after the hit and run based on a description of the car that he was driving.  His blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit.  The list of charges facing Mr. Warner include: aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, criminal conspiracy, and drug charges.

The motorcycle driver and his female passenger have not yet been identified.  There is no word on the female passenger’s condition.   The individual who pulled over to help the motorcyclists has been identified as Robert Scotko.  He was airlifted the hospital with what police call serious injuries.

Posted in Drunk & Distracted Drivers, PA Fatal Accident | No Comments »

How Dangerous Were Pennsylvania Roads Last Weekend?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Long weekends, especially summer holiday weekends, are particularly dangerous times on Pennsylvania roads and this past July 4th weekend was no exception.

The Pennsylvania state police report that 712 accidents were investigated over the four day travel period.  361 people were injured and 10 people were killed in those accidents. 

There was a significant increase in accidents and injuries over the July 4, 2009 holiday weekend when only 447 accidents were investigated, 206 people were injured and 9 people were killed.

State police also report 72 of the crashes, including 3 of the fatal crashes, were alcohol related in 2010.  Additionally, police cited more than 7,800 people for speeding, arrested 339 people for DUIs, and cited many others for failure to wear seatbelts and failure to secure children in proper car seats.

If you were injured, or if you lost a loved one, in a Pennsylvania crash then please call Pennsylvania car accident lawyer Jon Ostroff for more information about your rights and potential legal recoveries.

Posted in Drunk & Distracted Drivers, PA Accident Headlines, PA Fatal Accident | No Comments »

Are You Ready for the Most Dangerous Driving Day of the Year?

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

July 4 is not only a time of celebration and fireworks, it is also a day of danger according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  July 4 is the single most dangerous day on our nation’s roadways, particularly our rural roadways.  The increase in the danger comes from an increase in drinking and driving, driving while fatigued, and other types of distracted driving while people are relaxed and in a celebratory mood.

Many of these accidents occur not on the crowded city streets but on the deceptively safe rural roads.  Today, researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Excellence in Rural Safety released a study that identified the “Top 100 Rural Hot Spots.”  It defines those hot spots as the places where the most traffic fatalities have occurred over the past 8 years.  Pennsylvania is listed as among the states with the most “hot spots:” You can learn more about where those hot spots are by visiting www.saferoadmaps.org.

We encourage you to stay safe this holiday weekend and to avoid a Pennsylvania crash that could ruin – or even end – your life.

Posted in Drunk & Distracted Drivers | No Comments »

The Truth About Texting and Driving

Monday, June 21st, 2010

The dangers of texting and driving are often reported in the news – and with good reason.  Texting and driving is dangerous.  It causes serious injuries and fatalities every year. 

When we consider the problem of texting and driving, many of us think of teenagers who can’t stop using their phones long enough to drive safely.  However, teens are only part of the problem.

According to a new study released last week by the The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project adults are just as likely to text and drive as teens.  The study found that among adults who use text messaging, 47% of them do so while driving.  A similar study found that only 34% of teenagers who text message admit to texting and driving.  Since the percentage of adults who text is smaller than the number of teens who text, the study found that approximately 27% of adults and 26% of teens text and drive.

It is important that the dangers of distracted driving be conveyed to adults and teens alike so that more accidents can be prevented and more lives can be saved.

Posted in Distracted Driving, Drunk & Distracted Drivers | No Comments »

Off Duty Officer Killed in Accident

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Shortly after 1 a.m. yesterday, an off duty police officer drove the wrong way on the Schuylkill Expressway and collided with another vehicle.  The officer has been identified as 48 year old John Quigg Jr. of Glenside.    Officer Quigg was on restrictive duty following a drunk driving incident from last December where his blood alcohol level was found to be nearly four times the legal limit.

John Quigg was killed in last night’s accident.

The accident also seriously injured 23 year old Chantelle Harper of Philadelphia who was driving the vehicle that Officer Quigg collided with as he was driving the wrong way on the Spring Garden Street Ramp to the Schuylkill Expressway.  Ms. Harper is being treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The reason that Officer Quigg was headed the wrong way on the expressway ramp has not yet been disclosed.

Posted in Drunk & Distracted Drivers, PA Accident Headlines, PA Fatal Accident | No Comments »

Do Bucks County Middle Schoolers Have the Solution to Distracted Driving?

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Could it be possible that a bunch of kids who aren’t even old enough to drive have the answer to our nation’s distracted driving problem?

A group of middle school girls from the Council Rock School District are in Orlando this week as finalists in a national contest that using scientific problem solving to solve a community problem.  This group of students has developed a product called the TEXTerminator.  The TEXTerminator would shut down a cell phone’s text messaging capabilities thus preventing drivers from texting and driving.

The team developed the idea after giving a 12 question survey to more than 760 high school and college drivers, the majority of whom were between the ages of 16 -18.  The team’s survey revealed that 57% of survey respondents admitted to texting and driving and 23% of respondents reported that their parents text and drive.

If the team wins the competition they will be awarded $25,000 to help make their idea a reality.

Posted in Distracted Driving, Drunk & Distracted Drivers | No Comments »

North Philly Crash Injures Three

Friday, June 11th, 2010

On Wednesday June 9, 2010 a serious five car accident occurred in North Philadelphia.  The accident happened on Broad Street. 

The police have not yet determined the cause of the accident, nor have they identified the injured victims.  However, witnesses report that a nurse fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line thereby causing the accident.  One vehicle was turned on its side and another ended up pinned below several other vehicles.  Three people were hospitalized because of this Philadelphia car crash.

Posted in Distracted Driving, PA Accident Headlines, Philadelphia Accident | No Comments »

How You Can Help Stop Distracted Driving in Pennsylvania

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Are you concerned about distracted driving in Pennsylvania?  Are you committed to making Pennsylvania roads safer?

If so, you may be interested in the campaign tools to combat distracted driving that are offered on the federal government’s distraction.gov website.

The materials include logos that you can use on written communications regarding distracted driving, key messages that you can communicate to others regarding distracted driving, tips for working with the media on this issue, and other information designed to get parents, schools, community groups, police officers and employers to work together to stop cell phone use while driving specifically and distracted driving generally.

For specific tips about what you can do to combat distracted driving please visit the distraction.gov website.  Together we can make a difference and save lives!

Posted in Distracted Driving | No Comments »

DUI Arrests are Down in Lehigh Valley but DUI Accidents are Up

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Lehigh Valley may have something to be concerned about.  A recently issued state police report indicates that in 2009 DUI arrests were up across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and that DUI accidents and fatalities were down. Statewide, DUI arrests were up four percent and DUI accidents were down 1 percent from 2008 statistics.

However, that trend is not true for Lehigh County which saw fewer DUI arrests in 2009 and more DUI crashes.  In Lehigh County, State Police Troop M which covers the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County had six percent fewer DUI arrests and 13 percent more accidents compared to the 2008 numbers.

The lack of drunk driving arrests in Lehigh County may be contributing to the increase in drunk driving accidents in the area.  It is important to remain vigilant and to carefully watch the conduct of other drivers. If you see a driver behaving recklessly or driving erratically get out of the way and call the police.

Posted in Drunk & Distracted Drivers | No Comments »

Head on Collision in Bethel Township Sends 3 to the Hospital

Friday, May 14th, 2010

A head on collision occurred on Route 343 in Bethel Township yesterday.  Police report that 24 year old Kimberly Sourwine of Lebanon was trying to turn on to Route 343 from Golf Road when she hit a car driven by 50 year old Timothy Meck also of Lebanon.  Ms. Sourwine was trying to turn north on Route 343 but instead turned into the southbound lane and crashed into Mr. Meck.

Ms. Sourwine and her two passengers 21 year old James Gibbons and 29 year old Cory Shay were taken by ambulance to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.  Their conditions have not yet been released.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing and the police are waiting for the results of Ms. Sourwine’s blood alcohol tests to determine if this was a DUI accident.  Her passenger James Gibbons is facing drug charges for having marijuana in his pocket at the time of the accident.

Posted in Delaware County Accident, Drunk & Distracted Drivers | No Comments »

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