Archive for September, 2011

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29
Sep

Virginia Woman Killed in 2-Car Maryland Crash

September 29, 2011

A woman from Woodbridge, Virginia, was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Silver Spring, Maryland, early on the morning of Sunday, September 25.

The crash occurred at 4:36 a.m. at the intersection of Tech Road and Route 29, reports The Washington Post, when a 2004 BMW 325i that was facing a flashing red signal tried to proceed through the intersection but was struck by a 2009 Hyundai Elantra traveling through a flashing yellow light.

A 29-year-old female who was a passenger in the front passenger seat of the Hyundai died at the scene. Both drivers were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Hyundai was a 26-year-old male from Bristow, Virginia, while the driver of the BMW was a 49-year-old woman from Baltimore, Maryland.

The Woodbridge Patch reports that police are still investigating the circumstances of the accident. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed this fatal collision to contact the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit at 301-840-2435. Callers may remain anonymous.

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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.

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22
Sep

2 Virginia Tech Wrongful Death Lawsuits Postponed

September 22, 2011

The families of two women slain in the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting rampage will have to wait longer to know how their wrongful death lawsuits against VT officials will turn out.

The Roanoke Times reports that jury trials for both of the $10 million wrongful death lawsuits have been rescheduled for March 2012. The trials had been set to begin September 29, but plaintiffs requested a postponement because they said the Virginia State Police and a public relations firm that VT hired have stonewalled on discovery requests.

Special Justice William Alexander granted the delay.

The plaintiffs’ attorney also announced that his clients would be dropping claims against former employees of VT’s Counseling Center for alleged failures to follow up on mental health treatment for the gunman who inflicted the campus massacre on April 16, 2007.

Instead the families are expected to focus on gross negligence claims against VT President Charles Steger and former Executive Vice President James Hyatt, who the victims’ family members say failed to warn their daughters about a shooter who was loose on campus.

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

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15
Sep

Police Pursuit Ends with Multi-Car Crash in Newport News

September 15, 2011

A police pursuit in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday, September 12, ended with a multi-vehicle crash on I-64 near Denbigh Boulevard.

Virginia State Police Sergeant Michelle Anaya told WAVY.com that an officer saw a suspect traveling illegally in the westbound HOV lane at Bland Boulevard and attempted to pull him over for the HOV violation. The suspect, however, would not pull over.

When the officer ran the suspect’s license plate, he found that the vehicle the man was driving was listed as stolen from Henrico County.

During the chase, the suspect reportedly cut through the opening at Industrial Park Drive and then began traveling eastbound. While traveling eastbound he made yet another cut through, striking a trooper and beginning to travel westbound again.

“Now heading westbound, [the suspect] made yet another cut through.,” reports WAVY. “The third cut through was made at Denbigh, allowing the suspect to head eastbound. According to police, the suspect crashed into the same trooper again, bringing the pursuit to an end.”

The crash closed a lane of I-64.

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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.

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5
Sep

Virginia Car Crash Information Now Available Online

September 5, 2011

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has introduced an online interactive database of state car crash information for use by the public. Called the Traffic Records Electronic Data System (TREDS), the Governor said last week that the system aims to compile Virginia’s car wreck data and other relevant information into one place.

The information can be accessed through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website, where custom reports can be created, sorting information by fatalities and injuries. In a later phase, traffic crashes may be sorted by street location, and age and gender of those injured or killed. There will, however, never be personal driver information on the site.

“Multiple agencies combined efforts to create this efficient electronic method of collecting, storing and providing access to this important government information,” McDonnell said. “Previously, this information was stored by different agencies in different formats, making it hard for citizens to access. Now any Virginian, whether a safety advocate or a concerned citizen, can easily use this portal to look up comprehensive crash statistics in their communities.”

The end goal of TREDS is to reduce the number of Virginia traffic-related fatalities. There have been 487 in VA so far this year, and there were 494 last year.

“Linking the data together in a common format is efficient and creates more comprehensive, accurate crash statistics,” said DMV commissioner Richard Holcomb. “TREDS gives us a 360-degree view of crashes and their causes, which can aid in preventing future traffic fatalities.”

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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.

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1
Sep

Virginia Woman Killed, Maryland Man Injured in Route 15 Crash

September 1, 2011

A 53-year-old woman died and a 43-year-old man was injured in a car crash on Route 15 in Virginia’s Loudon County on Wednesday, August 31.

The accident occurred just before 6:20 a.m. when a 2008 Chevy pickup truck crossed into the southbound lane of Route 15 and struck a Ford van before slamming head-on into a 1997 Nissan pickup truck. The Chevrolet’s driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene. She was from Ashburn, Virginia.

Meanwhile the Nissan’s driver—a Brunswick, Maryland, man—had to be life-flighted to a nearby hospital where he is fighting life-threating injuries. The driver of the Ford was not hurt. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

WILA.com reports that just prior to the crash a Virginia State Trooper received information about a pickup driving erratically on Route 15 North, and he went searching for the truck. Just as he was coming upon the truck in question, he saw it cross into the southbound lane, causing the fatal crash.

The crash closed down Route 15 for three hours, reopening at 9:34 a.m.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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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.

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