Assignment 7/24

4 Injured After Man Crashes Van Into School
Man Charged, Held On $45,000 Bail
POSTED: 8:27 am EDT October 18, 2007
UPDATED: 9:20 am EDT October 18, 2007

SAN ANTONIO -- Police said a man was drunk when he crashed his minivan through a high school field house in Texas Wednesday afternoon.

Rolando Lopez , 49, is being held in the Bexar County Jail in lieu of $45,000 bond on charges that he crashed into the South San High School Field House, injuring four students, including a pedestrian, who police believe was the man's son.
Lopez was charged with three counts of intoxication assault, San Antonio station KSAT-TV reported.
Three students were hospitalized, two in critical condition on Wednesday night, authorities said.
A fourth student was treated and released at the scene.
"Prior to hitting the wall (he) actually struck one of the pedestrians in the parking lot," Sgt. Gabe Trevino said. "That pedestrian we believe was the actual son of the driver of the truck."
Students who were inside the building recounted the impact of the crash.
"We were all scared," one student said. "I heard a big bang and all the lockers came flying through."
Some had seconds to escape the oncoming van.
"The car just hit straight into the wall, then I dove out of the way," a student said.
School leaders said counselors will be on hand Thursday to help students cope with the incident.
http://www.wptz.com/education/14367019/detail.html

Driver Beaten After 2 Kids Hit Waiting For Bus
Two Men Facing Charges
POSTED: 6:16 am EDT October 18, 2007
UPDATED: 7:47 am EDT October 18, 2007

BOSTON -- Two children were recovering Thursday after being hit by a van while waiting for the school bus in Fall River.
The driver accused of hitting them was also recovering after he was allegedly attacked by a witness to the crash.
Police said the children, ages 11 and 6, were hit when a van driven by Sean Leitao, 23, of New Bedford, was traveling west on Morgan Street at about 7 a.m. The van failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with Fourth Street, striking a gray truck, according to police.

The Fall River Herald News reported that the collision sent the van, owned by Alarm Computer Technology, into the southwest corner of the intersection, where the two children were waiting for a bus to take them to the Doran School.
A man who saw the accident, identified as John Dorvil, 27, of Fall River, allegedly hit Leitao over the head with a piece of pipe from a fence damaged in the crash when Leitao got out of the van, police said.
Both men now face charges. Leitao was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stop at a stop sign. Dorvil was facing a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
As for the children, a brother and sister, the little girl was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence with head injuries and her brother was taken to St. Anne's Hospital with a leg injury.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14366370/detail.html

Girl, 10, Sees Mom Hit, Killed By Truck
Police Searching For SUV
POSTED: 1:32 pm EDT October 15, 2007
UPDATED: 5:52 pm EDT October 15, 2007

BOSTON -- A woman was killed Sunday night when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle as she was walking with her daughter in Seekonk, police said.
Maria Aguiar, 39, was walking on Chestnut Street at 6:20 p.m. when she was struck by a white SUV. The victim's 10-year-old daughter was riding a bicycle ahead of her mother. The child was not injured, but she did witness the crash.
"Megan said, 'Mom. The car is coming really fast, and he is not stopping. He doesn’t see us mom.' Megan put the bike on the side of the road, and as she turned back to tell her mother to be careful, that is when she suddenly heard a crash," said the victim's sister, Maria Blanco.
Police are searching for the SUV that left the scene traveling west on Chestnut Street. Officials said the vehicle may have passenger side front-end damage and possibly damage to the windshield.
"We are looking for a white SUV-type vehicle," Seekonk Police Department Chief Ronald Charron said. "In all likelihood, it will have windshield damage."
The victim's family said that they would have some strong words for the driver.
"You killed my sister. You left my niece on the side of the road who is 10 years old to defend herself and seek help for her mother. You didn’t even stop. You didn't even brake. How could you hit someone and run away? That is inhumane for us," Blanco said.
"She is very deeply missed. I wish that this guy comes forward," said Maria Ochoa, the victim's aunt.
Anyone with any information was urged to call the Seekonk Police Department at 508-336-8123.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/newsarchive/14343144/detail.html

Response:
How these relate to what we went over in class is that drunk driving is what injured 4 kids and 1 pedestrian at a school.
Speeding caused a van to miss a stop sign at an intersection and get hit by a grey truck thusforth hitting 2 kids waiting for a bus.
And the third article the guy was probably intoxicated behind the wheel so he didn't see the little girl and her mother.


8 Areas where it is illegal to pass traffic and why:

One area you are not allowed to pass is were there are signs with no passing because there is probably the reason why they put those signs there.
A second area is around corners you are not allowed to pass, this is because you cant see around the corner and could hit an on coming car.
You can't pass on hills because you cant see over them and could hit a car coming over the hill.
You are not allowed to pass at an intersection because you may get T-boned by someone to the right or left of you.
Another place you can not pass is when there is something obstructing your view because there could be a car or person you don't see.
You Can't pass were the road is under construction or a work zone because you may hit a worker or construction vehicle and it is illegal.
Finally you can not pass if there's any on coming traffic because you may not make the pass before you meet the cars.