TOUR BUS ♦ CHARTER BUS crash in Lake Placid ♦ Highlands County

LAKE PLACID - According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), two passengers were killed and 32 others were injured when a charter bus overturned today after being struck by a car.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Lake Francis Road and U.S. 27 in Lake Placid, Florida. FHP said at least five helicopters transported patients to nearby hospitals. Tampa General Hospital received four patients. The other people injured were being taken to Florida Hospital Lake Placid, Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring and Florida Hospital Heartland Sebring.

TWO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS in Pinellas County claim three (3) lives near Dunedin / Palm Harbor and Clearwater

PINELLAS COUNTY - According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, a motorcycle collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Curlew and Fisher Roads near Dunedin. The biker was not wearing a helmet and ejected off the bike. He was transported by EMS to Mease Countryside Hospital and was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m.

The day before this crash, the driver of his motorcycle failed to negotiate the curve on Montclair Road and was ejected from the bike. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the bike was transported by EMS to Mease Dunedin Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The investigation of this accident continues as law enforcement suspect that both speed and alcohol may have contributed to this crash.

FATAL BUS CRASH - NTSB finds array of "startling problems" causing bus crash – SAFETY INSPECTIONS

NATIONAL – According to the NTSB, "A punctured tire caused the bus crash that killed seventeen (17) people heading to a church retreat last year. The investigators also uncovered many other startling problems with the bus company, the driver and the safety inspections that allowed the bus to stay on the road."

Many federal agencies have ignored years of warnings that buses should be equipped with seat belts, luggage racks that don't fall apart during a crash.

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ULTRA LIGHT PLANE CRASH off John's Pass in Boca Ciega Bay – Resulting in two fatalities - Treasure Island - Madeira Beach

PINELLAS COUNTY - Two men are confirmed dead in the crash of an Ultra-light aircraft that went down in Boca Ciega Bay off John's Pass, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The Coast Guard was contacted shortly after 9:30 a.m. by someone who saw what looked like an airplane heading toward the water off John's Pass, according to Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Robert Simpson.

Crews from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue and Eckerd College all participated in the rescue attempt. Both bodies have been recovered.

The Federal Aviation Administration will be conducting an investigation.

Source - BayNews9 www.baynews9.com/images/news/2009/9/5/lgplanecrash1.jpg

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ROLL OVER CRASHES - cause fatalities & serious injuries in the United States including FLORIDA

Every year in the United States, more than 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents, and some 24,000 more are seriously injured. SUVs and pickups are the most rollover-prone vehicles. Some say that tougher standards and more rigorous testing are urgently needed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's report published in 2008 - Roof Strength and Injury Risk in Roll over crashes is available by clicking on the following link:

www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1098.pdf

NHTSA upgrades roof strength regulation. "The long-awaited federal upgrade of the 35-year-old regulation governing vehicle roof strength will save 135 lives, prevent more than 1,000 injuries and add up to $1.4 billion annually to the cost of new cars, the Transportation Department said."

The new regulation boosts the requirement to three (3) times to the weight for vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. Vehicles weighing from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds must meet 1.5 times standard. It said that the new regulation will add $54 per vehicle.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "These new standards go a long way toward reducing deaths, but safety belts are the first, most important step everyone should take to protecting themselves and their families."

If you or a loved one has been injured in a roll over vehicle crash, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate injury case evaluation. Our injury law team is available 24 hours a day to discuss your concerns. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and his staff investigators are available by calling toll-free (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

NO FEES OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

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