Widows Sue PA Bars for Serving Drunk Driver

July 1, 2011, two men leading the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, a group of riders who have overcome alcohol and drug addictions, were ironically struck head-on by a drunk driver, resulting in the death of two men and injuries to four others.  Now, the injured men and the widows of the deceased men have filed a lawsuit against the driver responsible and three bars that served alcohol to the drunk driver.

The group of motorcyclists was traveling from New Jersey to a friend’s funeral in Pennsylvania.  As they traveled on Route 512 in Bangor, PA, a pickup made a wide turn, crossed the center line and plowed head-on into the group traveling in the opposite direction. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide while driving drunk and aggravated assault.

Under Pennsylvania’s “dram shop law,” business owners can be held liable for the sale of alcohol to patrons who are clearly and visibly intoxicated. […]

Car Accident Round-Up: Students Killed in Wrong Way Crash

Woman slams head-on into vehicle after traveling seven miles in the oncoming lane in fatal car accident

Four Die in Wrong-Way Accident in Ohio
A 69-year-old woman traveled over seven miles the wrong direction on I-75 near Toledo, Ohio, before slamming head-on into a car carrying five college students.  The woman and three of the college students died in the Friday morning accident.  The two other college students were seriously injured.  A caravan of four cars was carrying 16 Bowling Green State University students to the airport for a spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic.  Police are investigating to determine why the woman was on the wrong side of the road.

Police Chase Leads to Fatal Car Crash in Pennsylvania
A driver and his passenger died early Monday morning when their car crashed into a wall in Wilkinsburg, PA after a police chase.  […]

NHTSA Delays Ruling on Making Back-Up Cameras Mandatory

At the end of 2010 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it was considering a proposal to require all passenger vehicles to install back-up cameras to limit back-over accidents.  Last week, however, the NHTSA announced it has postponed ruling on the mandatory requirements saying it needs to conduct “further study and data analysis.”

The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act was named for a child who was killed by his father as he was backing out of his driveway not realizing the two-year-old boy was playing behind the vehicle.   The ruling would be especially beneficial in protecting the lives of children, the elderly, and hearing and sight impaired pedestrians.

At the time the change was recommended, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said:  “There is no more tragic accident than for a parent or caregiver to back out of a garage or driveway and kill or injure an undetected child playing behind the vehicle. […]

Car Accident Round-Up: Fatal Nine-Car Accident in CA

Three dead, 10 injured in car accident caused by woman suspected of being drunk

Nine Car Accident Leaves Three Dead in CA DUI Accident
A nine-car crash in Monterey County, CA left three people dead and approximately 10 people injured, two seriously. According to police, the Wednesday evening accident occurred when a woman suspected of drunk driving reached for her cell phone and crossed the center line in her SUV, striking a Volkswagen head-on. Three occupants of the Volkswagen died and a fourth was seriously injured. After the two vehicles crashed, another seven cars were involved in a chain-reaction crash.  The occupants of the Volkswagen and those in another car following them were returning from a funeral in King City.  The pileup occurred on Highway 101 near King City, CA.

Man Dies Crossing Street at Busy Philadelphia Intersection
A 77-year-old man crossing the road at Henry Avenue and School House Lane in the East Falls section of Philadelphia was struck by a vehicle last week.  […]

Weekend Multi-Vehicle Accidents Shut Down PA Interstates

A rash of multi-vehicle accidents shut down portions of I-79 and I-80 Saturday leaving hundreds of motorists stranded for hours.  The accidents were attributed to the winter weather and near white-out conditions.  The Weather Channel reported there was a visibility of just one quarter-mile with heavy snow falling and winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour at the time of the accidents.

A 20-vehicle pileup on I-80 in Venango County, just east of the I-79/I-80 interchange near Franklin, PA, left three people dead and at least six people injured. The interstate was shut down for hours as police and rescue workers cleared the wreckage.  At one point traffic was backed up for over 13 miles.  School buses and rescue squad vehicles were used to bring nearly 75 stranded motorists to the Clintonville fire hall where they could eat and stay warm.  That accident occurred around 3:45 p.m. […]