AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY | Wrongful Death | Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. | DRUNK DRIVING | Highway Deaths Lowest Since 1950

NATIONWIDE - Highway deaths fell to 33,808 in the U.S. for the year 2009, the lowest number since 1950. The decline in traffic fatalities occurred even while estimated vehicle miles traveled in 2009 increased by 0.2 percent over 2008 levels, according to the Department of Transportation.

In addition, 2009 saw the lowest fatality and injury rates ever recorded: 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2009, compared to 1.26 deaths for 2008. 

Fatalities declined in all categories of vehicles including motorcycles, which saw fatalities fall by 850 from 2008, breaking an 11-year cycle of annual increases. 

In addition, the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 declined for a tenth straight year in a row, falling an estimated 5.5 percent from 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Alcohol impaired driving fatalities declined by 7.4 percent in 2009 – 10,839 compared to 11,711 reported in 2008. Overall, 33 states and Puerto Rico experienced a decline in the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2009 compared to 2008. 

"Today's numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving."

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Toyota and semi-truck crash | One fatal injury | FHP investigation | Trinity | New Port Richey | Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY – According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Toyota collided with a semi-tractor trailer on SR-54, east of Mitchell Ranch Road in Trinity / New Port Richey. The driver of the Toyota traveled across the center median into the path of the semi-tractor-trailer. The driver of the Toyota died from the impact of the crash.

 

Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating.

Wave Runner ♦ JET SKI ACCIDENT ♦ TAMPA BAY ♦ FATAL ♦ Courtney Campbell Causeway ♦ Rocky Point

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Jet Ski accident near the Bahama Breeze restaurant claimed the live of one. The accident happened on the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa.

Tampa Police said that an out of state resident was operating a jet ski on the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway when his jet ski was struck by a second jet ski.

The injured man was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he later died.

Fatal AMTRAK train crash blamed on possible gate and or light malfunction

According to Federal Investigators, the gates and warning lights at a railroad crossing weren't functioning properly and may have been turned off when an Amtrak train fatally struck a teacher.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s investigation revealed witness accounts and video footage which has confirmed the active warning system was not working when the train struck and killed the driver of the SUV.

DISNEY TRANSPORTATION – Bus Driver charged in 3rd Disney bus crash in 2 weeks – Near Disney's Hollywood Studios

LAKE BUENA VISTA – A Disney Transportation bus driver is accused of causing the third Disney-related bus crash in two weeks. Authorities say the driver of the Walt Disney World bus struck the back of another car from Ohio that was at a stoplight at World Drive and Buena Vista Drive, near the entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The SUV from Ohio was then pushed into a Disney-owned van.

This marks the third crash on the theme park's property in the past two weeks. A 9-year-old Pinellas County boy was killed while riding his bicycle in the campground when he collided with a Disney bus near the Fort Wilderness Resort.

MOTORCYCLIST DEAD in CRASH with pick up truck on U.S. 19 in PASCO COUNTY near Gulfview Square Mall

PORT RICHEY — According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a motorcyclist died after colliding with a pickup truck on U.S. 19. The motorcyclist was traveling south on his 2006 Suzuki motorcycle when a truck driving north on U.S. 19 turned left into his path. The collision happened just south of the Gulf View Square Mall.

The crash remains under investigation.

Motorcycle accident – Fatality in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - A Seminole man died early Saturday when he crashed his motorcycle on Tyrone Boulevard.

The driver of the motorcycle was thrown from his bike at around 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block of Tyrone Boulevard North. St. Petersburg police officials said the biker lost control of his 2008 Honda motorcycle before the crash. The bike skidded on its side nearly 100 feet. The biker , who was wearing a helmet, struck a signpost along the road.

The biker was taken to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment and was declared dead at 3:09 a.m.

SEMINOLE PEDESTRIAN KILLED BY MOTORCYLCE

PINELLAS COUNTY - THE FHP says a motorcycle hit and killed a man on Starkey Road in Seminole Friday night. Troopers say a husband and wife were walking across the street. The wife made it across, however the husband was hit. Troopers say the couple was not in a crosswalk.

The investigation is ongoing.

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PINELLAS PARK POLICE investigating fatal bicycle accident - Bryan Dairy - 118th Avenue - Belcher Road - Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY - A fatal accident involving a bicycle and two cars has shut down parts of Belcher and 118th Avenue (Bryan Dairy).  According to the Pinellas Park Police Department, a person on a bicycle was hit by a car just before 5 a.m. on Belcher Road at 118th Avenue North.  Homicide investigatiors have been at the scene trying to determine how the accident occurred.

Law enforcement authorities did say two vehicles may have hit the bicycle although the second vehicle likely did not hit the person. Officials closed southbound Belcher Road between 116th and 118th to conclude their investigation

♦ PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS ♦ Tampa Bay Area ♦ Clearwater ♦ Dunedin ♦ Largo ♦ Pinellas Park ♦ Seminole ♦ Gulf Blvd ♦ Gulf Beaches

TAMPA BAY - According to a recent study, the Tampa Bay Area is number two in the country for the number of pedestrian accidents. The Greater Orlando area is number one in the country for pedestrian accidents. REASON? Due to our climate we have a high number of people that walk a night. In addition, we have many visitors, guests and tourists who walk while on holiday or vacation; and are struck by a vehicle.

The Bay Area has had 192 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2007 & 2008 and 29 fatalities in 2009.

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$13.5 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT in product defect case

NATIONAL - Jurors hit Lasko Products, Inc., with a $13.5 million verdict after a faulty fan motor ignited a blaze in 2005 that killed a 7-year-old boy.

Lasko is the largest fan manufacturer in the United States. They discovered a defect in the China-made fan motors in 1999 and developed corrective technology in 2004. The company did not alert consumers who already had the defective fans nor report the problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) until after the boy's death.

http://www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html

TARPON SPRINGS pedestrian dies after being hit by a car on U.S. 19

PINELLAS COUNTY - A pedestrian pushing a bicycle was hit as she attempted to cross U. S. Hwy 19 just south of Martin Luther King. According to the Tarpon Springs Police Department, the woman was pushing a bicycle across U.S. 19 just south of MLK when a southbound vehicle hit her. The pedestrian was rushed to Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, where she later died.

One killed ♦ Two injured in roll-over accident on Memorial Highway in Tampa ♦ Town n Country

TAMPA – According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff, a roll-over crash has killed one person and closed a stretch of road in Tampa. One person died when a Ford Explorer SUV flipped over several times just after 3 a.m. on Memorial Highway near George Road. Two others were injured an transported to local hospitals.

Memorial Highway was closed from George Road to Independence Parkway and traffic was backed up Veterans Expressway. Law enforcement officials said, the SUV was traveling eastbound on Memorial when the driver lost control and hit a median.

Witnesses reported that prior to the crash, the SUV was speeding, when the driver lost control hit the median and flipped over several times. The investigation is continuing and officials said the roadway would be closed for several hours as the accident is investigated.

Dunedin Largo PINELLAS COUNTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - One fatality - One Seriously injured

PINELLAS COUNTY - Two separate Pinellas motorcycle accidents leave one rider dead, another injured. One motorcyclist was killed and another injured in two separate crashes in Pinellas County on Wednesday September 30, 2009.

The first accident occurred at the intersection of County Road 1 near San Christopher Drive in Dunedin. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was on the scene. The biker was transported to Mease-Dunedin Hospital and pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. No citations have been issued but the investigation is continuing.

Later, another motorcyclist was injured around 6 p.m. when he lost control of his bike and was thrown off his motorcycle on U.S. 19 just north of East Bay Drive in Largo. Largo Police was on the scene. The unidentified motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. He was flown via Bayflight to the Bayfront Medical Center with serious injuries.

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PEDESTRIAN HIT BY CAR while trying to cross ROOSEVELT BLVD. in Clearwater ♦ Pinellas Sheriff ♦ Florida Highway Patrol investigates

PINELLAS COUNTY – Twice in a month, a pedestrian has been hit and killed as he tried to cross Roosevelt Boulevard in Pinellas County. The accident happened on Saturday night at about 11 p.m. Law enforcement officials said the man was killed when he was hit by an automobile as he tried to cross Roosevelt Boulevard near 59th Street. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car stopped after the accident.

Officials have not said whether any charges will be filed in the case. The street was closed for several hours while deputies investigated the scene.

Source – BayNews9

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GOLF CART ACCIDENT ♦ passenger in golf cart dies after cart hit by van ♦ Florida

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers said, a Florida man died from injuries he received when the golf cart he was riding in was struck by a van. Two men were in a golf cart when they were struck from behind by a Ford van with four occupants.

The violent impact pushed the golf cart onto the west shoulder of the road. Troopers indicated alcohol and darkness were factors in the crash. The golf cart did not have lights, troopers said.

The investigation continues.

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LITHIA • FISHHAWK TRAILS • Motorcyclist killed in afternoon crash • HCSO on the scene

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, a motorcyclist from Lithia was killed this afternoon when he collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Lithia Pinecrest Road and Fish Hawk Trails.

The driver of a 2007 Ford F-150 was southbound on Lithia Pinecrest Road and was turning left onto Fish Hawk Trails Road. The motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Lithia Pinecrest Road when the truck made a left turn into the path of motorcycle. The motorcyclist struck the truck on the passenger side and was ejected from his motorcycle.

The motorcyclist died at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet. The investigation continues.

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Fatal crash involving a semi-tractor trailer and van closes I-75 south in Hernando County • Florida Highway Patrol on the scene • EMS • Accident

HERNANDO COUNTY - The FHP responded to the 4:50 a.m. call to find two vehicles involved in the crash, a semi-tractor trailer and a van. The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was killed in the crash. Currently the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 are blocked.

Southbound traffic is being diverted off at State Road 50. Workers are busy this morning clearing debris from the interstate. Troopers said the highway should be opened by midmorning at the latest.

The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 remain open and are unaffected.

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One Fatality and many others injured in multi-vehicle crash on I-75 – Tampa – Hillsborough County

TAMPA - A five-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 just south of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on Saturday afternoon left claimed the life of one and left several others injured.

The FHP reported that the accident occurred at 1:50 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the interstate. A north-bound vehicle rear ended a slowing 2001 Toyota Rav-4 SUV. The passenger in the SUV was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver and passengers of the vehicle that rear ended the SUV were seriously injured and transported to University Community Hospital in Tampa.

The collision involved three other vehicles, a pickup truck, a sport-utility vehicle and a van. Drivers and passengers in those vehicles were uninjured or only suffered minor injuries.

The FHP investigation continues.

• Pinellas Park motorcyclist killed in crash on I-75 in Sarasota County at mile marker 194 •

SARASOTA COUNTY - A 24-year-old man, 24, died this morning after his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The biker was traveling north on I-75 in the southbound lane and hit the right front of the tractor-trailer, which was traveling south, near mile marker 194 in Sarasota county. The motorcycle caught fire as it broke in half, troopers said.

The biker was rushed to Venice Regional Hospital, where he died. FHP troopers said the he was not wearing a helmet.

The investigation by FHP continues.