Wrongful Death

Young Child Killed in Texas Wrong-Way Accident Houston

Published on: July 29, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous motor vehicle accidents. These accidents typically involve direct impact at high speeds, often leading to deadly consequences. At the same time, most head-on accidents are entirely avoidable if motorists use sound judgment when behind the wheel and follow all traffic laws.

Recently, a two-year-old was killed in a Houston wrong-way accident. According to a local news report, the collision occurred on Eastex Freeway at North Loop 610 at around 3 a.m. Evidently, a family of five was traveling northbound on the highway when another driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes crashed into the family’s vehicle. It later came out that a police officer on the other side of the highway noticed the wrong-way driver but could not get to the driver in time.

As a result of the accident, the family’s two-year-old child was killed. Additionally, the wrong-way driver also lost her life in the accident. This accident is the second fatal wrong-way accident occurring in Houston within the past month.

Fatal Rear-End Accident on Highway 249 Claims One Man’s Life in Houston

Published on: July 16, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Rear-end accidents are some of the most common motor vehicle collisions on Texas roads. In part, this is because vehicles travel quickly, and an unexpected slow-down ahead may not leave motorists with enough time to stop. For this reason, it is incredibly important to leave sufficient room between vehicles, especially on crowded roads.

While it’s commonly known that the rear driver in a rear-end accident is generally the party responsible for the collisions, that isn’t always the case. In some situations, the driver that is hit may either share the responsibility or be completely at fault. For example, if the driver up front suddenly slams on their brakes for no reason or slows down to turn without signaling, a subsequent rear-end collision may be all but unavoidable for a driver behind them.

A recent example of a situation where the lead driver may share responsibility comes from an accident out of Houston. According to a recent news report, it was around 8 p.m. on Highway 249, near the Greens Road exit, when a man driving a white car pulled in front of a van before applying the brakes. The driver of the van was unable to stop in time and crashed into the back of the car. Sadly, the car’s driver was taken to the hospital and did not survive the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Boy Killed in Water Themed Amusement Park Ride

Published on: July 5, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

July 5, 2021: IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A young boy was killed in a deadly accident on the Raging River Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa. Investigators are looking into the cause of the boat accident ride which killed a child Saturday night at the Iowa amusement park when a raft carrying six people flipped over. This is the second deadly incident on the ride in five years.

Michael Jaramillo, 11, died Sunday from his injuries, and another minor remained hospitalized in critical condition, according to the Altoona Police Department. Two other riders suffered minor injuries.

It’s important to follow safety protocols when operating a water park at all times.

New Danger for Swimmers This Summer Due to a Lack of Lifeguards

Published on: July 2, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

pexels-markus-spiske-97047-200x300 Friday, July 2, 2021, Texas: As Americans head back to beaches and pools this summer, there is a new warning for families: Swim at their own risk. Some parts of the country are experiencing a dire lifeguard shortage. Pool openings were actually delayed in Texas with reported that hundreds of lifeguard jobs were still available in early June.

Tom Gill, Vice President of the U.S. Lifesaving Association, said, “There’s no substitute for safety, and the lifeguards are a part of the safety chain. The pandemic is largely to blame for the shortage. Towns are not able to hire, train, and certify new lifeguards fast enough, just as more Americans are flocking to waterfront destinations for the summer.”

Some pools have closed due to staffing shortages. A few facilities have posted notices on Facebook and websites turning away eager pool-goers. In Austin, Texas, the rapidly growing city is trying to stay afloat with just 250 lifeguards registered with the city compared to 750 in a typical year. “We just don’t have the time to get the lifeguards trained and on the payroll for this summer,” said Jodi Jay of Austin Parks and Recreation.

Three Killed in Fatal Head-On Accident in Winters, TX

Published on: July 2, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199 Driving behind a slow-moving vehicle can be a real headache, especially if you’re already running behind. However, passing another vehicle on the highway is one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers a motorist takes on a daily basis. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there are dozens of fatal Texas traffic accidents each year involving passing. One of the reasons why passing is so dangerous is that these accidents often involve head-on collisions.

Recently, three people were killed in a fatal traffic accident occurring just outside Winters, Texas, on State Highway 153. According to a local news report, the accident involved a Ford Edge and a Chevy Tahoe. Evidently, the Ford Edge was traveling westbound on SH-153 about six miles outside of Winters, TX. At the same time, the Chevy Tahoe was traveling eastbound. The driver of the Tahoe attempted to pass several vehicles. As the Tahoe entered the westbound lanes, it collided head-on with the Edge.

The impact from the collision caused the Ford Edge to catch fire. The driver of the Edge, as well as the passenger and a child in the back seat, were all pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Two other minors, also in the Edge, were seriously injured and transported to Hendrick Medical Center with critical and incapacitating injuries. The driver of the Tahoe also suffered severe injuries but is expected to recover.

Texas Racetrack Accident Claims One Man’s Life and Injures Bystanders

Published on: June 23, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Earlier this month, an accident in Fabens, TX, near the border with Mexico, claimed one man’s life and seriously injured several others. According to a recent news report, the collision occurred during a mud racing event when one of the vehicles on the track lost control and crashed into a crowd of bystanders.

Evidently, one witness caught some of the events leading up to the accident on tape. The video shows a vehicle starting to fishtail before it knocks over several cones. People are heard screaming in the background. The video then cuts out. Another video from the immediate aftermath of the accident shows a white truck stopped under a tent designated for spectators. The video shows one person lying on the ground. Several other vehicles can be seen in the immediate vicinity.

One man was killed in the accident, and seven others were seriously hurt. Authorities are still investigating the accident, as it was initially unclear what caused the vehicles to leave the track and why there was not a more substantial barrier between the track and spectators. It remains unclear if this was an officially sanctioned event or just a group of people who arranged a recreational race.

Malfunctioning Crane Causes Fatal Texas Car Accident

Published on: May 24, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Last month, an accident involving a construction crane and a pick-up truck claimed the lives of two men. The accident occurred in Jefferson County on Interstate 10, near Beaumont. As is often the case in fatal Texas car accidents, news reports conveyed conflicting information in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

What is known is that two men were traveling westbound on I-10. As they approached a section of I-10 where crews were working on widening the highway, they collided with a crane. Both men were immediately killed in the collision.

Initially, reports indicated that a large commercial vehicle was towing the construction crane, which somehow became dislodged from the truck. As the crane broke free, it collided with the pick-up truck.

Accident Injury Report – Two Killed in Fiery Tesla Crash in Houston Area

Published on: April 27, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

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April 27, 2021, Houston, TX – On the evening of Friday April 16th a Tesla Model S crashed and burst into flames after hitting a tree in the Carlton Woods subdivision in the Woodlands. The Tesla, traveling at high speed, failed to negotiate a bend and came off the road on Hammock Dunes Place, a residential street in the upscale Houston suburb.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said that the investigation showed “no one was driving” the fully electric 2019 Tesla Model S when the accident happened. There was a person in the passenger seat of the front of the car and in the rear passenger seat of the car. One of the men was identified as Dr. William Varner, a member of the Memorial Hermann medical system. The second victim of the Tesla crash was named as 69-year-old engineer Everett Talbot. The accident has made national headlines because local officials investigating the incident say there was no one driving the vehicle.

Federal investigators with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are among those now looking into the deadly accident that killed both men.

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: Two Dead After Tire Separates From Car in Wood County

Published on: April 1, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199 Saturday, March 27, 2021, Mineloa, TX: Two people died after the back tire separated from a vehicle and caused a rollover crash on Saturday in Wood County. The driver of an SUV, Robert Guy Marino of Tyler, was pronounced deceased Monday morning. The passenger, Cathy Marks, 64 also of Tyler died at the scene Saturday.

According to DPS, the driver of a Ford Explorer was traveling north on US 69 at around 1:20 p.m. Saturday when a back left tire came off the vehicle, causing the driver to loose control. The Explorer traveled off the road into the eastbound ditch where is rolled over. The driver, Marino, was not wearing a seatbelt and was transported to UT Health Tyler in serious condition where he later died.

DPS said the crash is still under investigation.

Accident Injury Report: Abilene PD Investigating Fatal Crash On Highway 36

Published on: March 14, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

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Sunday, March 14, 2021: ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Police Department responded to a major vehicle crash at approximately 1:05 p.m. Saturday, March 13 at US Highway 36 and Blackburn Road. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a pickup truck and a Dodge Challenger that had both driven off the road and the Challenger was on fire.

Witnesses said the Challenger, driven by James Wells, 59 was traveling north on US Highway 36 at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles on the two-lane road.

Wells tried to pass the pickup truck driven by Mark Rodgers, 39 of Abilene near the Blackburn Road intersection. A vehicle in the oncoming lane caused Wells to try to get back in his lane but clipped the Rodgers vehicle in the rear, causing it to veer off the road and hit a tree before stopping in a field. Rodgers was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife and three children (ages 8, 10, 11) who were also in the truck where taken to the hospital for treatment. Their condition is unknown. Wells was also taken to the hospital for his undisclosed injuries.