3 killed in crash on River Road

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you guys make of the eye witness account listed under Washington Post Comments about this incidence. It's not really eye witness but more hearsay because it is repeated from the person behind the car stopped at intersection. It was one of the first comments made and it goes into great detail over the supposed order of events. Do you think it's real? It puts all blame on the victims.

Unless the family had a left turn arrow, and the BMW driver ran a red light, how would the family not be at fault? Without a green arrow to turn, the person crossing the intersection must always yield to oncoming traffic. No matter the speed of oncoming traffic.

I'm not a cop or a lawyer but no way can this be correct. If you're breaking traffic law (speeding, texting, whatever), and there's a crash, it's at least partly your fault.

[Anonymous]

Europe is mandating collision avoidance systems in the next 4 years. There are people in this country who say that they don't want the government telling them when to put their brakes on! I am all for madatory collision avoidance sysems in cars.

[Anonymous]

Even though the BMW driver has a bad record, it still does not mean that he or she was in the wrong. The simple fact is that the Volt driver did NOT have the right of way. The witnesses have said that he paused when he should have gone, and bolted out when he should have yeilded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you guys make of the eye witness account listed under Washington Post Comments about this incidence. It's not really eye witness but more hearsay because it is repeated from the person behind the car stopped at intersection. It was one of the first comments made and it goes into great detail over the supposed order of events. Do you think it's real? It puts all blame on the victims.

Unless the family had a left turn arrow, and the BMW driver ran a red light, how would the family not be at fault? Without a green arrow to turn, the person crossing the intersection must always yield to oncoming traffic. No matter the speed of oncoming traffic.

I'm not a cop or a lawyer but no way can this be correct. If you're breaking traffic law (speeding, texting, whatever), and there's a crash, it's at least partly your fault.

In civil cases contributory negligence applies. Not sure it does here. If they have a way of proving he broke some other law he could be charged with that crime. But the person coming across the intersection is always responsible for yielding.

[Anonymous]

My daughter knows this family and is incredibly distraught.

She says that this is very much like the plot of her favorite book/movie, "If I Stay".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter knows this family and is incredibly distraught.

She says that this is very much like the plot of her favorite book/movie, "If I Stay".

Yes! I had that thought too. Loved that book. So very sad for the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though the BMW driver has a bad record, it still does not mean that he or she was in the wrong. The simple fact is that the Volt driver did NOT have the right of way. The witnesses have said that he paused when he should have gone, and bolted out when he should have yeilded.

And if the BMW driver is innocent than the volt driver essential ruined his life too. I don't know how you'd get over something like this. I know I wouldn't

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though the BMW driver has a bad record, it still does not mean that he or she was in the wrong. The simple fact is that the Volt driver did NOT have the right of way. The witnesses have said that he paused when he should have gone, and bolted out when he should have yeilded.

I drove a volt for a while. Not a fan. Sounds like the driver could have hit the gas, and the car took too long to respond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter knows this family and is incredibly distraught.

She says that this is very much like the plot of her favorite book/movie, "If I Stay".

Oh my god, that was my daughter's initial reaction too. Honestly, I thought her's was an odd reaction, but hearing that other kids are "going there" mentioning the book/movie too makes me think this may be an age-appropriate way of wrapping their heads around something so tragic. This community will need to come together to support this seriously injured girl…and to help the other students absorb what has happened.

Glad Whitman will have counselors on site on Monday. Lots of pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though the BMW driver has a bad record, it still does not mean that he or she was in the wrong. The simple fact is that the Volt driver did NOT have the right of way. The witnesses have said that he paused when he should have gone, and bolted out when he should have yeilded.

I drove a volt for a while. Not a fan. Sounds like the driver could have hit the gas, and the car took too long to respond.

I wondered about that.

Looking online there is a history of a delay in acceleration happening with volts going from idle to movement.

Isn't this a general problem with hybrid cars? My husband rented one once and complained about this when it switched from idle to moving.

[Anonymous]

There are ways that speed at impact can be figured out, looking at the distance the car was thrown plus the damage that was done. If the impact occurred at 50 MPH the likelihood of fatalities would be different from what it would be for an impact at 70 or 80 MPH. Also, the ability of the Volt driver to avoid the collision is partly dependent on the speed the BMW was going.

I'm so sorry for the family, and the poor daughter. Tragic.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about you guys, but I have absolutely seen nutso drivers speed up when they see a person trying to cross left in front of them. Same with people who speed up to stop merging traffic. So I don't think we can say anything for now.

[Anonymous]

If someone is trying to bully me into an unsafe turn from behind, then let them go around me. I don't particularly care if they get hit. The lead car in a line has the best view. If you are too dumb to get that, too bad. I have had idiots try to whip around me at a green left turn and almost run over a pedestrian and in a separate incident, nearly get flattened by a fire truck with full lights and sirens. No one is too busy to wait their goddamn turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can search his name here if you want to see all the past traffic incidents.

http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/

One incident for speeding on 495 and one incident that was dismissed... Really that is it... Sorry but he was the victim.

You're looking at the wrong record:

In April 2015 at 6:45 pm, going 85 in a 55 mph zone.
Also charged with changing lanes when unsafe and reckless driving (wanton and willful disregard for safety of persons and property

In Sept. 2015, negligent driving, failure to drive vehicle on right half of roadway when required, failure to obey properly placed traffic control device, and following vehicle closer than reasonable and prudent.

In Oct. 2013, driver spinning wheels,

In Aug. 2013, negligent driving.

In June 2014, possession of marijuana.

Just to clarify, the first in your list should actually say "April 2013". The Sept. 2015 tickets were dismissed. The Aug. 2013 is the same as the April 2013 violation. He appeared in both traffic and criminal courts. So, a more accurate list would be:

In April 2013 at 6:45 pm, going 85 in a 55 mph zone.
Also charged with changing lanes when unsafe and reckless driving (wanton and willful disregard for safety of persons and property

In Sept. 2015, negligent driving, failure to drive vehicle on right half of roadway when required, failure to obey properly placed traffic control device, and following vehicle closer than reasonable and prudent. All dismissed in court.

In Oct. 2013, driver spinning wheels,

In June 2014, possession of marijuana.

How old is this person?

Reports indicate that he is 20

He is 20, driving for 4 years... 1 speeding ticket, 1 spinning wheels.

I guess you think negligent driving is not a big deal. I've been driving for nearly 30 years and have never plead guilty to negligent driving. He likely needed the lawyer to get the charges knocked down to keep his license.
Can't believe an insurance company would cover him and if they did I can't imagine it would be cheap.

You also forgot the speeding ticket in Arlington.

You do a lot of imagining that is for sure.

[Anonymous]

If there is a school in the neighborhood, there should be traffic light at every intersection, PERIOD! I've seen young people got involved in a accident before. We came back from around midnight, the road was still closed from Whittier. It's so tragic and painful.