Monthly Archives:February 2016

An Orlando-based trucker’s tanker rig was the immovable object that put an end to a high-speed chase in Miami yesterday, police say. More than a dozen police cars were chasing a fleeing robbery suspect on I-95 when the pursuit was abruptly ended as the suspect’s SUV slammed into the rear end of the tanker truck. The tractor-trailer accident was enough to jolt the truck — and it crushed the front end of the robbery suspect’s Ford Expedition.

56-year-old Matthew Armstrong was heading back to Central Florida in an Indian River Transport tanker after delivering a shipment in Miami. His wife Patricia was riding in the cab. Just as they crossed the Broward County line at around 11 a.m., they were surprised by the police chase.

According to police, the high-speed chase began because a police officer witnessed the suspect attempting to commit a robbery. The suspect took off in his Ford Expedition, igniting a chase that involved at least twelve police cars and was followed by press helicopters.

The police chase met with an abrupt end when the suspect rammed his SUV into the transport truck near the Hallandale Beach Boulevard on I-95. Police and press reports described the truck accident as causing the SUV to slam to an immediate stop when it encountered the heavy, slow-moving tanker.
Matthew and Patricia Armstrong were injured in the wreck but were treated at a local hospital and released later that afternoon. The robbery suspect was also injured in the commercial truck accident, although it is unclear how serious his injuries may be.

Truck Driver a Bit of a Hero for Inadvertently Assisting With Arrest

It isn’t every day that a commercial trucker helps the police collar a suspect, and certainly not in this unusual way. Armstrong has worked for about 3-1/2 years for Indian River Transport, a large trucking company based in Winter Haven.
“We just happened to be in the same place at the same time,” said Buck Merritt, safety director for Indian River Transport, when asked about the truck accident that ended the police chase.

As for Armstrong? “We’re in the process of getting him back to Central Florida,” Merritt said. “He’ll have a couple of days off.”

Source: Orlando Sentinel, “Orlando trucker survives ramming by South Florida robbery suspect,” Henry Pierson Curtis, November 18, 2010

A shocking truck accident on I-95 in Volusia County on Monday ended in the death of one driver, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The fatal accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. Monday night near mile marker 223 in the southern section of the county, troopers say.

According to state troopers, an unidentified person was driving a 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck southbound on I-95. It suddenly swerved to the left, crossed the median into northbound traffic and collided with a tractor-trailer driven by a 50-year-old man from Jacksonville.

After hitting the semi-truck, the pickup overturned and burst into flames. The driver was still inside and died at the scene. State troopers have not yet identified the driver to the press or released any information about whether the driver was male or female.

The Florida Highway Patrol does not have any information about why the driver of the Chevy pickup swerved out of his lane and crossed the median. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the truck accident.

Collisions With Tractor-Trailers Can Be Far More Deadly Than Other Crashes

This tragic truck accident demonstrates one important aspect of commercial vehicle accidents. The size and weight differential between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle is so great that a collision can cause catastrophic damage to the smaller vehicle. Even larger passenger vehicles such as pickup trucks can face disastrous consequences when they collide with something as large as a tractor-trailer.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in accidents involving commercial trucks, roughly 69 percent of all fatalities were to occupants of a passenger vehicle, and another 14 percent were motorcyclists, pedestrians or bicyclists.

Our sympathies go out to the family of the deceased motorist, and we urge all drivers to take special care on the roads.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, “One dead after truck, tractor trailer collide on I-95 in Volusia, FHP says,” Gary Taylor, November 30, 2010

Injuries from dog bites requiring hospitalizations are skyrocketing, according to a new study by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The research covered the period from 1993 through 2008, and found an 86 percent jump in the number of serious dog bite cases over the 15-year period — from 5,100 hospitalizations in 1993 to 9,500 in 2008.

The analysis also found that injuries to children between 5 and 9 and to seniors were the mostly likely to be serious enough to require hospitalization. Also, people living in rural areas were four times more likely to make an emergency room visit related to a dog bite than those who lived in urban areas.

Nearly half of those hospitalized required treatment for skin infections. Fifty-eight percent needed a medical procedure, such as stitches, a skin graft or a wound debridement (the removal of unhealthy tissue from a wound to promote healing).
On a daily basis in the United States, an average of 866 people go to a hospital emergency room to be treated for a dog bite or animal injury. An average of 26 require admission to the hospital for those injuries, based on the agency’s 2008 data.
The agency also found that the average cost of a hospitalization for a dog bite is $18,200. Injuries from an attack by another party’s dog or domestic animal is generally covered by homeowners insurance under the law of premises liability, although not all dog owners have homeowners insurance, and not all policies cover dog and domestic animal bites. When insurance coverage isn’t available or the coverage limits are too low to compensate the victim fully, the victim can also file a premises liability claim.

Each year, around 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs, but most of those bites are not serious enough to require hospitalization.

Source: Orlando Sentinel Booster Shots blog, “Man’s best friend? Severe dog bite injuries have increased,” Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2010

On Wednesday, December 1, a 13-year-old girl and her family members were attacked by a group of more than a dozen bullies on her way home from school. The girl says that she warned a school official at Memorial Middle School that the attack was likely, but the official didn’t do anything to stop the attack. If the school was negligent, it could be facing a premises liability claim.

Katherine Marsh, a spokesperson for Orange County Public Schools, said she couldn’t comment about the specific case, but school officials are generally expected to ensure that students are safe from known campus threats. That responsibility has sometimes been extended to off-campus activities in cases of negligent security.

The girl’s mother says that her daughter, who has pink highlights and bows in her hair, is often the target of school bullying because of her Mexican heritage and her fashion choices. The group of bullies called her “Barbie” during the attack.

Coordinated Bully Attack Results in Injuries to Children, Mother
On December 1, the eighth-grade girl told her mother that she expected to be attacked. Her mother decided to bring the entire family to walk the girl home from school.
“My mom walks to pick her up most days,” said the woman’s older daughter. “This time, we decided to walk the dog and everything.”

Nevertheless, a group of both boys and girls — at least some of whom were Memorial students — approached the girl, her mother, her 18-year-old sister, her 10-year-old brother, her friend and the family dog as the family walked home along 34th Street.

One of the approaching girls punched the eighth grader, and other members of the group struck the girl’s friend and older sister. When the mother tried to intervene, one of the bullies punched her, as well — using brass knuckles or a chain-wrapped fist, according to the older daughter. The group dispersed when the older girl called the police, but one member came back to threaten the mother.

The mother, the older daughter, the eighth grader and her friend were all injured in the attack. The 13-year-old and her friend had facial swelling, neck pain and headaches, and one of them required on-scene treatment. The family later sought treatment at a hospital.

Was Negligent School Security Partly Responsible for the Attack?

The school district says that it is taking the incident seriously, but denies that negligent security played a role, saying there was little they could have done to prevent an attack off of school grounds.

Marsh, the district’s spokesperson, says that students are given routine anti-bullying instruction, and both students and parents are required to sign a code of conduct forbidding bullying. Memorial has suspended some of the bullies, but is not sharing information with the family.

The 13-year-old thinks the school could and should have done more something to prevent the attack, such as providing security for her walk home.

The girl’s family has hired a lawyer, who has asked the school district to let the family know what discipline will be handed down.
“I believe she was targeted based on her being different,” said the attorney. “We want to make sure she doesn’t continue to be a victim.”

The family has agreed to press charges, and the 13-year-old will not be returning to Memorial. For now, she simply hopes to avoid the violent bullies.

“I’m always looking over my shoulder,” she said.

Sources:
• Orlando Sentinel, “Family injured after fight outside Memorial Middle School,” Anika Myers Palm, December 4, 2010
• Orlando Sentinel, “Teen ‘Barbie’ blames school for failing to stop alleged attack,” Anika Myers Palm, December 8, 2010

There have been two serious school bus accidents just days apart in Florida, resulting in injuries to a total of 21 students, serious injuries to one bus driver, and the death of another driver. Although there appears to be no connection between the two incidents, it does raise an alarm about our children’s safety.
Bus accidents are rare but, like all commercial vehicle accidents, they can be especially dangerous. Even though school buses have a number of built-in safety features, there is ongoing concern that more could be done to prevent injuries to children riding in buses, such as installing seat belts or increased driver safety training.

SUV crashes head-on into school bus; 18 injured, SUV driver dead
The first of the two wrecks occurred last Friday morning, January 28, in Pinellas County. About 38 students were on their way to Paul R. Smith Middle School in Holiday when a woman driving a sport utility vehicle smashed head-on into the bus.
The woman was catastrophically injured in the car accident and later died. The bus driver was taken to a hospital in serious condition, and 17 students were hospitalized. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the cause of the fatal accident.

Two school buses collide, injuring 4 students
Yesterday in Brevard County, the driver of a school bus for the Imagine Charter School in West Melbourne was transporting 24 students when he rear-ended another school bus. The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. February 2 in Palm Bay.
“The Imagine school bus rear ended the other bus,” said a reporter from Palm Bay, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “A total of 24 children were on board the Imagine school bus which is contracted through ANS Transportation out of Naples.”

According to police, the 71-year-old driver failed to stop in time at an intersection, which caused her to rear-end the second school bus that was stopped there. No children were on the second bus.

Four injured children were taken to the hospital, and the driver was cited for failure to use due care while driving.
Because of the size and momentum of the large vehicles, any commercial vehicle accident can result in serious or even life-ending injuries. Please take extra care whenever you see a school bus on the road.

Sources:
• Orlando Sentinel, “Driver dies after crashing into school bus north of Clearwater; 17 students hospitalized,” February 2, 2011
• Orlando Sentinel, “Four students hurt when two school buses crash,” January 28, 2011

The truck driver who struck two motorcycles while attempting to pass another vehicle on County Road 476 outside of Bushnell, Florida, has been charged with four counts of vehicular manslaughter DUI. The trial for the truck driver has been set for April 4.

The exceptionally tragic motorcycle versus car accident killed four people in early March 2010. The driver of a 1991 GMC truck was attempting to pass another vehicle, a 2003 Dodge truck, when he saw the two motorcycles fast approaching. According the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) accident report, the truck driver saw the motorcyclists and attempted to slow down but his effort was useless. The GMC truck struck both motorcycles head-on.

Each motorcycle was carrying two people. The motorcycle drivers and their passengers were all ejected. Upon impact, the victims flew through the air and one victim even crashed into the windshield of the Dodge truck the at-fault driver was attempting to pass. Three of the motorcyclists were pronounced dead on the scene while a fourth died at the hospital as a result of the catastrophic injuries sustained in the wreck.
At the time of the accident, the GMC driver was driving with a suspended license. He only received minor injuries as a result of the accident and was treated at the scene, along with the driver of the Dodge truck.

Motorcycle accident victims have a right to obtain compensation against an at-fault driver. If a car driver acted negligently on the road, the victim may be able to receive compensation for his or her injuries, medical bills and lost wages in a personal injury suit.

The family of a loved one killed in a fatal car accident or motorcycle accident can also file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver. While holding the driver responsible for the crash won’t bring closure to the tragic loss, it may enable the family the financial freedom to grieve without worrying about money.

Source: Daily Commercial (online), “Trial Date Set in Biker Fatalities,” Brad Buck, January 28, 2011

An FHP trooper who had pulled a car over on I-4 Wednesday afternoon was injured when another driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the trooper’s patrol car. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the trooper’s injuries were not life-threatening and he did not have to be hospitalized after the car accident.

Injuries to police and emergency responders are all too common on Florida’s roadways, despite the law’s requirement that other drivers take extra care when a patrol car or emergency vehicle is parked on the side of the road. This trooper was lucky, but car accidents involving emergency personnel frequently cause serious and even catastrophic injuries.

According to the FHP, the trooper had pulled a car over on I-4 and was parked on the left shoulder of the off-ramp that leads to northbound I-95 in Volusia County. At around 4:15 p.m. as the trooper was wrapping up his traffic stop, the driver of a 2001 Ford F350 who was driving eastbound on the ramp lost control of his pickup. He careened across the road and slammed into the parked patrol car.

The pickup-truck driver, a 62-year-old man from Register, Georgia, was cited for careless driving. FHP investigators determined that the patrol car had been parked appropriately for the traffic stop.

Pedestrian accidents are always serious. Please be aware that police, emergency responders, construction crews and others are frequently on the roadway at great risk to their lives and safety. Don’t assume there are no pedestrians nearby simply because you are on an Interstate. As always, please drive safely.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, “FHP: Trooper’s injuries minor after crash during traffic stop,” Jeff Weiner, February 9, 2011

A recent investigation by NBC’s Today show found that both adult and youth hockey players are routinely being exposed to potentially toxic levels of carbon monoxide. The combination of gasoline-powered ice resurfacers and a lack of ventilation creates a miasma of poisonous carbon monoxide inside ice rinks, which can lead to serious illness and even brain injury.
Linda Davis, a former skater for the Ice Capades, has been diagnosed with long-term carbon monoxide poisoning, which has left her with chronic lung disease and damage to her brain. She now has memory problems and has to use a respirator.
“It started small, and then it progressed into completely debilitating me,” she told Today. “You just don’t know what your child is exposed to.”

Without proper ventilation, gasoline fumes from Zambonis linger; can lead to toxic exposure
Most hockey and ice skating rinks maintain a smooth, safe ice surface by using an ice resurfacer known as a Zamboni. There are several models, but most Zambonis are the size and shape of a small truck, and most run on gasoline.

The problem is that most ice rinks do not have enough ventilation to allow gasoline fumes, which are filled with carbon monoxide and particulates, to dissipate, experts say. In fact, ventilation is often restricted in order to keep the ice from melting.

“There’s very little ventilation,” says Joseph Cocciardi, a certified industrial hygienist interviewed by the show. “Whatever toxic materials are in the ice rink stay there.”
Just last week at least 61 people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after being sickened by fumes at a hockey tournament in Gunnison, Colorado. According to Today’s investigation, at least 250 people have been poisoned by fumes at ice rinks nationwide.

The effects of severe carbon monoxide poisoning can be immediate, but the toxic effects of long-term exposure can be subtle. Carbon monoxide poisoning starves the brain for oxygen, which can cause brain injuries over time. Carbon monoxide and particulate pollutions can also cause lung damage.

‘You think your kids are safe in a rink,’ says mother of hospitalized teen
Nancy Fischer, interviewed by Today, recently found out that her 14-year-old son, who plays hockey three or four nights a week, had been exposed to the toxic fumes at his hockey rink. After a practice, he fainted in the locker room and couldn’t stand up. He and other team members were rushed to the hospital, where they were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It was very scary,” Fischer said. “I didn’t know the long-term effects. You think your kids are safe in a rink — and he wasn’t.”
Whenever we drop our children off at a sports activity, we know they could be injured. Nevertheless, we do expect them to be safe from preventable harm. In fact, premises liability law requires operators of public and private facilities to remove any known dangerous conditions. Injuries to children are far too common, and we need to do all we can to protect them.

Source: AOL Health, “Report: The Ice Rink May Make Your Child Sick,” Catherine Donaldson-Evans, February 10 2011

The Tavares Police Department is enthusiastic about a new weapon engineered to subdue combative suspects and take control of dangerous situations. Some Central Florida citizens, however, are not nearly as happy about the addition of the new “X3” taser model to local law enforcement’s arsenal.
The controversial weapon differs from most existing tasers because it allows the police officer to fire up to three shots without reloading. Some concerned Tavares citizens wonder if this feature is really necessary or if it represents an unnecessary risk of serious injury or even wrongful death.

Triple taser: Important police tool or a tragedy waiting to happen?

Tavares Police Captain Danny Felicia explained that the multiple shots are useful if the target is moving and you miss with the first or second shot. He also stated that some suspects aren’t subdued with just one taser shot, requiring multiple probes to surrender to law enforcement. He also pointed to situations where multiple targets pose a threat to police officers.

Critics of the triple taser argue that ordinary tasers are already deadly, and the new technology simply compounds the problems of potential police misuse and accidental death. They point to incidents in Florida and across the nation where law enforcement’s use of tasers have resulted in the death of suspects.

In one such incident, a Miami-Dade Police officer’s taser killed a 29-year-old man near the University of Miami campus in 2008. The accidental taser-death left a young boy without his father. Anti-taser spokespeople explain that preexisting conditions such as severe asthma or heart defects can result in wrongful death when an electrical shock surges through the body.

Advocates of the more powerful taser admit that accidental deaths can happen in rare circumstances, but that the taser is a much safer way to detain combative suspects than traditional weapons such as firearms or batons.

Sources:
• WESH.com Orlando, “New Taser Packs Triple the Stun,” January 27, 2011
• JustNews.com Miami, “Partygoer Stunned With Taser Gun Dies,” January 11, 2008

Activists for a free Tibet are mourning today after the tragic death of the Dalai Lama’s nephew, Jigme Norbu, who had dedicated much of his life to that cause. Norbu was killed in a car accident Tuesday night during a “Walk for Tibet” event. Those taking part in the walk with him say that Norbu, 45, was so dedicated that he had insisted on pressing on after dark.
The fatal accident occurred sometime after sunset Valentine’s Day on Highway A1A about 25 miles south of St. Augustine. The Florida Highway Patrol gave few details about the wreck except that Norbu had been struck from behind and that the driver is not expected to face charges.

Jigme Norbu began his walks in part to commemorate Norbu’s late father, Thubten Jigme Norbu, the Dalai Lama’s eldest brother, who died in September 2008. The younger Norbu dedicated much of his time to the Tibetan cause after his father’s death in order to carry on his human rights works and those of the Dalai Lama.

Prior to committing most of his time to the Tibetan cause, 45-year-old Norbu had been a restaurateur in Indiana. He was married and had three children.

Behind on 30-mile daily goal, Norbu continued walking after dark, friends say
The Valentine’s Day Walk for Tibet was to be a walk from St. Augustine to West Palm Beach. The walkers had gotten a late start, however.

“Our goal was 30 miles per day…we were a little behind and we just kept going,” said fellow walker Wangchuk Dorjee, who was participating in his fourth walk with Norbu.
“He talked a little bit about his oldest son getting ready to go to high school and that he would maybe play football.”
Dorjee and support driver Donna Kim-Brand, who planned the logistics of the walk, had gone ahead to arrange dinner, leaving Norbu to continue walking. They had never continued walking after dark, but Norbu had told them he wanted to walk two more miles for the cause, said Kim-Brand.

Norbu was wearing athletic shoes with reflectors, Kim-Brand said, but he had no reflective tape on his clothing. He was carrying a white sign saying, “Walk for Tibet, for world peace, human rights and Tibetan independence,” and he had been walking in the direction of traffic before the pedestrian accident.

Dorjee remembered Norbu as a man who was “always laughing” and who was dedicated to the Dalai Lama’s work.
“I walked with him many, many miles and of course, you know the blisters, but he never complained. He always said, it’s ok…my blisters are nothing compared to what happens in Tibet…my brothers and sisters suffering,” he said.
Dorjee told reporters that the Dalai Lama had been notified of the fatal car accident and that he had been in touch with Norbu’s family.

“They’ve already spoken to his holiness and had the Tibetan traditional prayer,” Dorjee said.

Source: ABC News, “Dalai Lama’s Nephew Killed By Car on Walkathon, Had to Press On,” Jessica Hopper, February 15, 2011