Archives : 2009 : August
Motorcyclist Killed in San Jose Accident
A Fremont woman has been killed in a motorcycle accident on a freeway in San Jose.
According to MercuryNews.com, 57-year-old Kathryn Marie Marotta was riding a motorcycle, and seems to have lost control or hit an object. According to witnesses, she was ejected from the motorcycle which was on Story Road ramp, to highway 101. Marotta was ejected several dozen feet away from the motorcycle, and sustained fatal injuries. According to the California Highway Patrol, no other vehicles were involved in the accident. CHP investigators say it’s not yet clear what caused the accident. There is no information if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this accident. Toxicology tests will likely be conducted, as is routine in fatal accidents, and it will be several weeks before we find out the results.
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Nursing Home Abuse Suspect to Testify Against Two Co-Accused
One of three suspects in a shocking nursing home abuse scandal in Kern County has accepted a plea bargain, and will testify against the other two accused. Debbie Gayle Hayes, who is a former pharmacist, has accepted the plea bargain to testify against the two other staff members at the facility where the abuse occurred.
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Texting Accident PSA is Graphic, but Effective
A Public Service Announcement message video featuring a car accident caused by a text messaging teen, has gone viral on YouTube, and has already had more than 1 million views on the popular video sharing portal. There has been criticism that the video is too graphic, but California car accident lawyers and advocates of stronger laws against cell phone use behind the wheel politely disagree.
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Unsafe Trucking and Bus Companies Continue to Operate, Increase Risk of Accidents
A study released by the Government Accountability Office last month revealed a shocking fact. Hundreds of trucking and bus companies have been able to operate under different names after they had been ordered to shut down for drug testing violations, unlicensed drivers, and other federal violations.
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Pedestrian Killed in Santa Cruz Accident
A Santa Cruz man was killed last week in a pedestrian accident involving a Hummer. The man was walking on the sidewalk at about 9pm when he was hit by the car. The driver of the Hummer, 43-year-old Watsonville resident Reginald Wilcoxen fled the scene of the accident. He abandoned the Hummer less than a block from the site of the accident, and officers spotted him being driven away from the site by his son. Officers managed to stop the vehicle, and Wilcoxen was apprehended after a short chase on foot. The identity of the pedestrian who was killed, has not yet been determined. He was taken to the hospital, but died from his injuries soon after.
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After Series of Accidents, Muni May be Getting its Act Together
After a series of accidents that have left several people injured, San Francisco’s Municipal railway transportation system is planning stronger safety measures.
The transit agency has been under fire for a while now, by California train accident lawyers, rail safety advocates and the public. Earlier this month, there was a meeting involving officials, aimed at outlining safety measures to minimize the risk of accidents. More details are emerging about these safety measures. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the rail system plans to mandate training of operators in safety rules and procedures, as well as certification every year, instead of every other year. There are also other plans in the pipeline. The agency may impose stricter standards for medical test clearance by Muni operators. Measures will be imposed to make it harder for employees to flout safety regulations, and there will be stronger crackdowns on employees who break the rules.
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Parents File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Fatal Berkley Accident
The parents of a little boy, who was killed in a Berkeley pedestrian accident involving a truck, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver, trucking company, school bus driver and others.
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One Dead in Truckee Gas Explosion
At least one person has been confirmed dead in an explosion in an apartment complex in Truckee in Nevada County on Tuesday.
According to news reports, a 27-year-old woman has been killed in the explosion and her husband and their three children, aged 12, 7 and 10 years old, sustained injuries in the explosion. The woman died from her injures on Tuesday night. The three children suffered burns, and received treatment in the hospital, but have been discharged. The children’s father sustained serious burn injuries, and had to be airlifted to a hospital. He is reported to be in a critical condition.
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Trucks Banned from Highway after Los Angeles County Accident
In April this year, a tractor trailer crashed into several vehicles in La Canada Flintridge, killing two people. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that permanently bans large trucks from entering the highway where the accident occurred.
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AstroTurf to Reduce Lead Content from Defective Turf Products
The California Attorney General’s Office has announced that artificial turf maker AstroTurf has agreed to reformulate its turf products to remove lead from them. AstroTurf is one of the pioneers in the artificial grass business. Its turfs are used around California in residential backyards, school play grounds and playing fields.
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