Anonymous wrote:The money for Helena would go towards what exactly? I feel like with these tragedies there's always fundraising but it's never clear why exactly. I imagine she has health insurance -- though I also don't know how that would work now bc if she's on her mother or father's plan and they are deceased, what happens to any dependents on the plan? Seems like the father was a lawyer, so hopefully there's a will and/or trust to pay the mortgage and provide for the daughter -- but I honestly don't know how common these set ups are or whether people just don't do them bc who thinks about these kinds of freak accidents.

She's a high school sophomore who has just lost both of her parents and her big brother in a horrific car accident. I have no idea what this family's finances were but it might take time to sort that all out anyway. In the meantime there is a young girl who has just lost her entire family and is seriously injured herself. She probably doesn't have quick access to much money herself.

People want to feel like they are doing something. Contributing to a fund for Helena seems appropriate to me. I have a kid her age and I just can't imagine....poor girl.

This is so sad. Rip and prayers to those that died and to their families.

The money for Helena would go towards what exactly? I feel like with these tragedies there's always fundraising but it's never clear why exactly. I imagine she has health insurance -- though I also don't know how that would work now bc if she's on her mother or father's plan and they are deceased, what happens to any dependents on the plan? Seems like the father was a lawyer, so hopefully there's a will and/or trust to pay the mortgage and provide for the daughter -- but I honestly don't know how common these set ups are or whether people just don't do them bc who thinks about these kinds of freak accidents.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I don't know if the BMW involved had it, but it's an option (Active Driving Assistant in the Driving Assistance Plus package) on that model. That said, like most collision avoidance systems, they only work at city speeds.

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.

I know who made this comment, because I called him when the incident occurred and told him to go check it out -- he lives very nearby. He's very trustworthy. His report is from talking to a woman in a car that witnessed the accident. In fact, she tried to extricate them while another driver called 911. The only part of the account that was inaccurate is they thought all 4 occupants were teenagers. All airbags deployed on the vehicle that was struck, and it was dark, so I attribute this to an honest mistake -- it was difficult to see the trapped occupants.

The Volt was sitting waiting to make the turn for a while, even though it was clear. Then, it makes the turn right in front of the oncoming car.

I'm not going to speculate -- those are the facts are reported by a witness at the scene to my contact. He then called me to report on it, before even posting details on any websites.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why the county won't install a camera? J

It's a state road (MD-190) not a county road.

There are red light cameras in both directions on River Road, one a block later at Wilson, and one two blocks in the other direction at Goldsboro. I don't know if MD uses speed cameras, or that's just a county thing.

There are lots of speed cameras on state roads - Connecticut and Georgia just off the top of my head.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why the county won't install a camera? J

It's a state road (MD-190) not a county road.

There are red light cameras in both directions on River Road, one a block later at Wilson, and one two blocks in the other direction at Goldsboro. I don't know if MD uses speed cameras, or that's just a county thing.

Does anyone know why the county won't install a camera? J

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of posters here find the idea of a teenager making a mistake like this easier to deal with mentally than a parent making a mistake like this. But that urge shouldn't let us ruin someone's name before the facts are out.

It's a tragedy either way

It is. But given the 20 year old's driving record, which is exceptionally poor for four years of driving, along with what we know about how 20 year old men drive, and given that 50 year old fathers with their families in the car tend to be conservative and not risk taking, many people are getting upset that a family was destroyed likely due to the young boy's recklessness.

I have twice asked that posters refrain from posts of this sort. If such posts continue, I will be forced to lock this thread and prohibit further discussion of the topic. Based on current information, it is simply impossible to say to what the crash was "likely due".

+1

Exactly. "But everyone's an expert!"

jsteele wrote:I've asked before and I'll ask one more time. Let's let the investigators do the investigation. A lot of you are crossing over to character assassination based on nothing more than the model of car. I drive a BMW that is very similar to the one in this crash, so maybe I am a bit sensitive. But, I don't think it is right or fair to jump to conclusions when so little is known at this point.

+1

Welcome to the worst sides of the D.C. area. If you don't witness bias based on your car, and more every day - be grateful. I am glad you are insightful enough to pick up on this behavior, and thank you for calling it to posters' attention.

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you, 19:57. The case is now well-documented to demand the immediate installation of a traffic light.

Found the 2008 petition online.

"Does a high school student or other driver have to be killed before those that can get this done will listen?"
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Traffic_policy_WBethesda/conversations/topics/61

Anyone go to the vigil? Did people speak?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you, 19:57. The case is now well-documented to demand the immediate installation of a traffic light.

+1
Appalling. Hopefully this news ripples across the State and local groups audit the claims of the SHA.

A light would certainly be beneficial at this intersection. That said, on innumerable occasions I have seen drivers run through red signals on River Road at high speed.

Cameras then. They pay for themselves.

Does that area of MoCo have any cameras?

I think the light at River and Wilson has a camera. I haven't seen any speed cameras, though.

Anonymous wrote:I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that the light at Royal Dominion Dr. (Holton-Arms) was installed after a bad accident in the late 80s/early 90s. It's too bad that residents have to fight so much and it takes a deadly accident to get action.

A little off topic and I don't live out that way, but I take the left turn to the beltway going southbound (towards Rockville) about 2-3 times a month. There is a light there, but I think it blinks yellow, when it's not a green arrow. People come flying up northbound and there is not a good view of them before they appear. I've made a few anxious turns here in my limited experience. Anybody else have a problem with this intersection? Are the a lot of accidents here?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you, 19:57. The case is now well-documented to demand the immediate installation of a traffic light.

+1
Appalling. Hopefully this news ripples across the State and local groups audit the claims of the SHA.

A light would certainly be beneficial at this intersection. That said, on innumerable occasions I have seen drivers run through red signals on River Road at high speed.

Cameras then. They pay for themselves.

Does that area of MoCo have any cameras?