Archive for July, 2011

0
28
Jul

Driver Dies When Pickup Truck Plummets 135 Feet Off Blue Ridge Parkway

July 28, 2011

On Friday, July 22, a man was found dead inside his pickup truck, having driven 135 feet off a cliff along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County, Virginia.

The deceased’s brother reportedly called 911 after discovering the wrecked black Ford Ranger truck, which he had been out looking for. The call came in around 1:40 p.m., though it’s not known when the crash occurred or how long the man had been dead.

“Collisions are fairly common on the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said National Park Service spokesperson Miranda Cook to WSET.  “It’s a dangerous road.”

A WSET article also includes an interview with Montvale volunteer firefighter Scott Hawkins, who indicated the circumstances of the crash were puzzling to rescue crews.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened here,” said Hawkins. “It’s definitely not in a sharp turn, it’s not where a lot of accidents occur … When I arrived there was a family member that waved me down, there was a family member here … But any obvious marks in the parking lot, there were none to indicate there was an accident here.”

Crews pulled the truck out of the ravine by 5 p.m. on Friday.

The victim’s name and age have not been released.

Last month a young man died when he fell from a cliff along the Blue Ridge Parkway while rock climbing.

Read more.

Do you think the Blue Ridge Parkway is unsafe for Virginia drivers?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

Bookmark and Share
0
21
Jul

Number of Distracted Driving Crashes in Lynchburg On the Rise

July 21, 2011

Distracted driving caused 404 crashes, 172 injuries, and two deaths in Lynchburg, Virginia, last year, according to The News & Advance.

In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that in 2010 there were 5,396 distracted-driving-related crashes statewide, which injured 22,292 people and killed 281.

“Driving is a complex task,” said Lynchburg Officer Ronnie Sitler. “Anything you do—such as fiddling with the radio or the GPS or talking on your phone—is a distraction that can lead to a crash.”

Distracted driving in Virginia—and across the country—has become so pervasive that the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is now seeking out people willing to have cameras installed in their cars so that the effects of distractions can be observed.

A previous Virginia Tech study, which looked specifically at distracted driving amongst commercial truckers and bus drivers, found that drivers who are texting behind the wheel take their eyes off the road for 4.6 out of every 6 seconds while texting.

“In my opinion, almost all accidents are caused by some sort of distraction,” said Lynchburg Officer J.W. Blankenship. “If you are paying attention and following the law, you wouldn’t have a crash. People I write speeding tickets to, many say, ‘I wasn’t paying attention.’ If you weren’t paying attention, then what were you doing?”

Read more.

What do you think should be done to deter distracted driving in Virginia?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

Bookmark and Share
0
14
Jul

7-Year-Old on Bicycle Hit by Car in Lynchburg

July 14, 2011

A seven-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was hit by a car on Saturday, July 9, while riding his bike in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The accident occurred around 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Chapel Lane near Old Forest Road. A 1997 Honda Accord driven by a 37-year-old Lynchburg woman struck the boy after he rode his bicycle into the road, according to WDBJ7.

The driver of the Accord called for help, and the boy was initially taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. He has since been airlifted to University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

The Lynchburg Police Department is investigating the crash and urging anyone with information to call the Traffic Safety Unit at at 455-6047 or the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900. They have not yet filed any charges.

WSET reports that the boy lives in Capital Heights, Maryland, and was in Lynchburg visiting family.

This was the second child to be hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Lynchburg this month. On Monday, July 4, a boy was hit by a car at the intersection of G and Norwood Streets after he failed to mind a stop sign.

Read more.

Do you think bicycle safety programs would help reduce the number of accidents for cyclists in Lynchburg?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

Bookmark and Share
0
7
Jul

Evington Man Gets 4 Months in Jail for DUI Maiming

July 7, 2011

On Wednesday a 44-year-old Evington, Virginia, man was sentenced to four months in jail after causing a January 2009 drunken-driving wreck that broke a Campbell County woman’s pelvis and injured one of her ankles.

The man plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and a felony charge of DUI maiming.

The accident occurred January 7, 2009, when the man crashed his vehicle into the victim’s car as she pulled into her driveway near the intersection of Waterlick and Lawyers roads.

The case had been delayed to see if the woman would recover from her injuries but she hasn’t, said Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Paul McAndrews to The News & Advance. Instead, she now suffers chronic pain and has an altered gait.

“There’s nothing you could do to [the DUI offender] because [the victim] still thinks about him every day when she wakes up in pain,” said McAndrews, who also said the victim is not satisfied with the plea agreement.

Read more.

Do you think justice was served following this Virginia auto accident?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

Bookmark and Share