2009 August Archive

Date:  August 14‚ 2009

Location:  Northeast Indiana

Type:  Bus vs. auto wreck

Outcome:  Two people killed‚ driver seriously injured

Two passengers in a car that turned in front of a Christian rock band tour bus were killed and their pregnant driver seriously injured when their car abruptly turned in front of the bus‚ leaving no room for the bus to stop.  The accident happened in Fort Wayne‚ Indiana and involved the Dallas‚ Texas based band‚ MercyMe.  The driver‚ Kara Klinker‚ was hospitalized with serious injuries and concerns about her unborn baby.  Her two deceased passengers were not yet identified.  Members of the band suffered bumps and bruises‚ but no reported serious injuries.

Our sympathies go out to Ms.Klinker‚ her family‚ and the families of her passengers.  The loss of life is always tragic and unfortunate.

Date:  August 9‚ 2009

Location:  Seacoast Drive near Elder Avenue‚ Imperial Beach‚ California

Type:  ATV accident

Outcome:  One Sheriff’s Deputy suffered minor head injuries

Two San Diego Sheriff’s Deputies were involved in an Imperial Beach ATV accident when one Deputy rear-ended the other Deputy’s ATV.  Late in the morning on Sunday‚ August 9‚ the two Deputies were heading north on Seacoast Drive when one stopped his ATV.  The other Deputy collided with the rear of the ATV and knocked the Deputy off the all-terrain vehicle‚ causing him to land on his head and arm.  The injured Deputy suffered head injuries and is recovering.

Location:  Fairmount Avenue at Myrtle Street‚ City Heights neighborhood of San Diego‚ California

Type:  Car accident vs. pedestrian

Outcome:  Pedestrian seriously injured

A 66-year-old man was seriously injured and suffered a head injury and possible traumatic brain and neck injury when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to cross the street.  He was struck by a Honda at approximately 9:15 p.m.  The Honda was described as having tinted windows and neon lighting under the car.  It was located several hours later near the intersection of Poppy Place and 40th Street‚ about one mile away from the accident.  This San Diego pedestrian accident is still being investigated by the San Diego Police Department.

Date:  August 9‚ 2009

Location:  I-15 Freeway‚ San Diego‚ California

Type:  Car struck fire truck which then struck firefighter

Outcome:  One firefighter injured

An early morning auto accident along Interstate 15 injured a San Diego firefighter when a car crashed into his fire truck at a very high rate of speed.  The accident took place at 1:00 a.m. on August 9 when the car struck the firefighter‚ who was placing cones in the roadway.  The vehicle then hit the firetruck.

There were three people in the car when it struck the fireman and his truck‚ including a child and his father who were both rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.

The firetruck was blocking traffic for the fireman at the time of the accident.  However‚ the car struck the truck at such a high rate of speed that it moved the truck forward and launched the fireman 10 feet into the air after it struck him.  The fireman had jumped behind the firetruck for safety.

Date:  August 6‚ 2009

Location:  1200 block of 11th Street‚ Imperial Beach‚ California

Type:  Rollover car accident

Outcome:  Driver killed

John Kirk Colgan‚ Jr. was killed on August 6 around 10:00 p.m. when his Toyota pickup truck struck several parked cars and overturned after it blew a tire.  Mr. Colgan was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his vehicle during the car crash.  Although the cause of the car crash is under investigation‚ outside factors are likely at play‚ such as alcohol‚ cellular phone usage‚ or texting which would have distracted Mr. Colgan or affected his ability to drive his truck.

He is survived by his wife and son‚ both of whom live in Imperial Beach.  Our prayers go out to them.

Unfortunately‚ this is another tragic example why we must always wear seat belts when riding in a vehicle.  While there is no way to know for sure‚ the survival rates for people involved in car accidents increase tremendously when seat belts are used.

Date:  August 3‚ 2009

Location:  Northbound I-15 near the Cassidy Street exit‚ Oceanside‚ CA

Type:  Drunk driver car accident

Outcome:  One girl killed‚ two people injured

A 9 year-old Los Angles girl was killed in an early morning multi-vehicle Oceanside car accident caused by a suspected drunk driver.  The accident occurred after midnight in heavy traffic when a Lexus in the fast lane changed lanes to avoid hitting a car just ahead of it.  In doing so‚ the Lexus struck a car‚ which hit a Honda CRV and a big rig truck before stopping.

The girl was a passenger in the Lexus and was taken to Rady’s Children’s Hospital‚ but was pronounced dead on arrival.  Two other drivers were injured and taken to Tri-City Medical Center in Vista‚ California.