Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer - Motor Vehicle Accidents

Teen Dies in Alcohol Related Car Crash(2)

Linda Snyder — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:35:33 GMT

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, police say two 18-year old men had been drinking at a party before the vehicle they were riding in rolled early Saturday, killing one and critically injuring the other.

Neither was wearing a seatbelt and both were ejected. The passenger, Evan Kinnan, died in the one-car crash on Woodmen Road, and the driver, Craig Milos, suffered severe head injuries and was listed in critical condition at Penrose main hospital.

"Alcohol is definitely involved - there is no maybe," said police Lt. Patricia Feese.

Investigators are still looking into how the teenagers obtained the alcohol at a party in the Peregrine neighborhood, in northwest Colorado Springs, Feese said.

Kids have been drinking and driving ever since there has been alcohol and vehicles (both motorized and non-motorized). Yet, today the statistics are hitting epidemic numbers. So, why are drunk driving accidents involving under-age drinkers seem so much worse today, than even 10 years ago? Is there more publicity, more public awareness? Do young drivers have easier access to cars today? Easier access to alcohol? Is there less accountability to parents or authority figures?

Consider these statistics:

â€¢ In 2006, an estimated 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes--an average of one every 30 minutes. These deaths constitute 41 percent of the 42,642 total traffic fatalities. Of these, an estimated 13,470 involved a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater).
â€¢ Approximately 1.4 million drivers were arrested in 2004 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in the United States (2005 data not yet available).
â€¢ According to MADD, in 2006, these students reported that alcohol is "very easy" or "fairly easy" to get.
â€¢ 92.5 percent of twelfth graders
â€¢ 83 percent of tenth graders
â€¢ 63 percent of eighth graders
â€¢ Male drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes are almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or greater (NHTSA 2006). It is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

â€¢ At all levels of blood alcohol concentration, the risk of being involved in a crash is greater for young people than for older people (Zador et al. 2000). In 2005, 16% of drivers ages 16 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol (NHTSA 2006).
â€¢ Young men ages 18 to 20 (under the legal drinking age) reported driving while impaired more frequently than any other age group (Shults et al. 2002, Quinlan et al. 2005).

It seems that underage drinkers have no problems getting alcohol and they certainly don't have any problems getting a vehicle to drive. Is there a cure for this under-age drinking and driving epidemic?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Linda Snyder

Car Accident Kills Aurora Man

Shannon Weidemann — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:28:08 GMT

A 39-year-old man from Aurora was killed in a car accident last week. The accident happened on Interstate 25. The victim was apparently trying to pass a semi-truck and he ended up hitting the truck.

The driver

apparently accelerated and moved to the right lane, cutting off another vehicle in the process but making no contact with it. He continued to accelerate while in the right lane and attempted to move into the left lane again, in front of the Freightliner.
Instead, the Toyota's left rear struck the right front of the semi, causing the car to spin counterclockwise as it went off the left side of the road and onto the center median.

The victim was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his car. The driver of the semi-truck was not hurt in the accident. The police are still investigating the accident and believe that alcohol, drugs, and high rate of speed were not factors.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Two Killed in Colorado Springs Car Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:13:03 GMT

Two people and a dog were killed in a late night car accident on Interstate 25 in Colorado Springs. The driver of one car was driving in the wrong direction on the interstate and fleeing the police. He hit another car head on, killing the driver of that car and her dog.

Police are investigating whether alcohol played a role in the crash, which happened at 12:30 Tuesday morning. Northbound lanes of the interstate were closed for five hours. They re-opened in time for the morning commute. The crash happened near mile marker 137.

All of the victims died at the scene of the accident. It is not known why the car was driving the wrong way on the interstate. In 2006 he had pled guilty to reckless driving for driving 42-mph above the speed limit.

If you would like to learn more about car accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Car Accident information page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Colorado Springs Car Accident Injures Pedestrian

Shannon Weidemann — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:51:01 GMT

A pedestrian was injured in a Colorado Springs car accident on Thursday. The driver of the car first drove into a home and then as he tried to drive away he hit a pedestrian. The pedestrian was injured.

The driver

was driving on North Carefree Circle in northeast Colorado Springs shortly before 4:45 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle on an icy spot while attempting to make a left turn.

He also drove into a retaining wall and a parked car before fleeing the scene. He was found by the police but resisted arrest. He will be charged with mulitiple offenses. He is currently in the county jail. It is believed that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

If you would like to learn more about car accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Car Accident information page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Van Hits Four Coronado Students

Shannon Weidemann — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:19:13 GMT

A parent was dropping her child off at Coronado Springs High School when she hit four other students with her van. The pedestrian accident happened Friday morning on Fillmore Street. The students were between the ages of 14 and 16.

The parent was turning left at the light," Naleski said. "The students were in the crosswalk. The parent said she was blinded by sun glare and didn't see the students."
The incident remains under investigation, and all four teens remained at Memorial Hospital on Friday afternoon, Naleski said.

The students' injuries ranged from broken ribs to a head injury. They are being treated at Memorial Hospital and all are expected to recover. The driver of the van was given a ticket for reckless driving.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Child Killed at Car Wash in Colorado Springs

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:56:11 GMT

A 20-month-old boy was killed at a car wash in Colorado Springs on Saturday. He was playing outside of his car while his father was vacuuming it. A truck hit the boy when he stepped in front of it.

Greco's family was at M&M Car Wash on Bula Drive when he was hit. Police say his father was cleaning the car when the accident happened and his mother and another child were nearby.
Greco was taken to Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The police are investigating the car accident and no charges have been filed. The police do not believe that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Teenager Hurt in Car Surfing Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:58:57 GMT

Two 17-year-old teenage boys took turns "car surfing" on the hood of a car in a parking lot in Colorado Springs. One of the boys fell off the car and was critically injured. The car accident happened on Sunday at The Citadel.

Police said the two were taking turns standing on the hood of the car while the other drove in circles when the one fell.
Lieutenant Skip Arms said the driver faces a felony vehicular assault charge, and the injured boy could also be charged. The teen who was arrested had fallen and hurt his wrist before taking over the wheel, Arms said.

There have been incidents in the past of teenagers dying in car surfing accidents in Colorado. The most recent was two years ago and it also involved a Colorado Springs teenager.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Major Car Accident in Colorado Springs

Shannon Weidemann — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:45:54 GMT

A mulitple car accident on the Hancock Expressway closed down the road early this morning. Police believe that two cars were involved including one that rolled over.

Police believe another car may be involved in the accident but it apparently left the scene to bring some injured people to the hospital.
Police are calling it a serious injury accident and have called out their Major Accidents division out to investigate.

The accident happened around 2am and the expressway was closed until 8am this morning. The police are still investigating the accident. At least one person was taken from the scene by ambulance to a local hospital.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Glenwood Springs Accident Kills One

Shannon Weidemann — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:32:33 GMT

A Tuesday evening accident on County Road 115 in Glenwood Springs left one person dead and three others in the hospital. The 19-year-old driver of the car was killed after she went off the road and flipped the car. Her three passengers were ejected from the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche.

The crash occurred at about 6:47 p.m. When emergency personnel arrived, they found a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche on its right side on the roadway. A preliminary investigation indicated Hernandez was driving north on the road, which leads to Spring Valley, between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, when the vehicle went off the road to the right. Hernandez apparently overcorrected to the left, causing the vehicle to roll one and one-quarter times, ejecting all of the occupants, according to the state patrol.

It is unknown if alcohol played a role in the accident, but it is believed that high speed was. The police are still investigating the single car accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

C-470 accident included police cruiser

Staff Writer — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:13:02 GMT

A multiple-vehicle accident on C-470 yesterday afternoon casued the westbound lanes to be closed to clear the pile-up, which included a police cruiser from Littleton.

A report on MyFoxColorado.com said that there were a number of accidents along the same stretch of C-470 in Douglas County yesterday due to the icy conditions. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

The westbound lanes of C-470 opened just before 3 p.m.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer