Infant, Toddler Among Four Dead in 80 Crash

Pardon me.... Rio Oso.

Let's face it... we all want less government in our lives. If you choose not to wear a seat belt and hit a tree and go flying through the windshild and die... so be it... You made that choice.

When you fail to understand how to tow...
Somebody sells you a trailer and does not teach you how....
Somebody puts on a hitch and does not explain...

Your actions now affect me when your trailer comes unhiched and now hits my car and family.

That is the essential role of government is to protect the citizens.. is it not.

Then where is the government??? Maybe they are apoligizing to China.

Here is another jacknifed trailer.

Do we see a pattern here??

Even my 8 year old can see a pattern.

POLICE AND FIRE REPORT
Travel trailer destroyed in bypass crash

SALISBURY -- An East New Market couple was injured in an accident on the Route 13 Bypass Sunday when a travel trailer they were towing jackknifed and their sports utility vehicle overturned, Maryland State Police said.

Police said the driver, Richard Schmick, 59, and passenger Scheryl Schmick, 58, were taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries following the 1:06 p.m. accident near Johnson Road.

Troopers said their preliminary investigation revealed that a possible malfunction caused the 32-foot travel trailer begin swerving back and forth, eventually causing the towing vehicle to jackknife and overturn.

The driver was trapped in the overturned SUV, but was freed by emergency personnel.

One lane of the Bypass was closed for several hours so that State Highway Administration workers to clean up a large debris field that resulted from the accident.

Police said a 2000 Ford SUV was totaled and a 2007 Foreman travel trailer was destroyed.

Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office assisted at the accident scene, police said.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...

Have any of you who has read this forum seen any product have as much things go wrong.

They come unhiched.
The lights do not work most of the time.
People do not read the manual.
People do not know how to load one.
People can't figure out the Maxium tow limit.
They jacknife.
The wires are exposed 24/7. They should be encased.
They are made as cheep as possible.
They don't have breaks but if they are over 3,000 pounds then they do.

The manufacturs make them weigh just under 3,000
pounds to avoid inspections in most states.

Where is product liability??
Johnny Chochren we need you!!!!

My Law in Virginia is making a difference in your State.

Please go to LOWES. They are putting reflector tape at their cost in Virginia.

I was able to get to a VIP at the company!!!!

They are putting the tape on the back of the trailers in YOUR STATE!!! Without being told to.

Can someone go into a parking lot of LOWE's and see if they sell these utility trailers and let me know if they are doing it???

ONE STRIP SHOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM, TWO ON EACH SIDE.

Your state does not require this......

We all come from the same place.

What difference does it make who they were?

When you come down to it we are HUMAN Beings.

People should not die due to these types of accidents.

How can you blame the children?? They did not ask to be here, all they want is to be loved.
I blame the person who sold them the hitch.
I blame the person who sold them the trailer.
I blame our government for not first having a
safety course before you can tow.
I blame the insurance industry for letting this go on.
I blame the manufactures that know they make a product that is just under the legal limit for inspections.
And LASTLY I blame the parents for not putting the children in child safety seats.

Shame on us for letting this happen.

Ron Melancon wrote:

We all come from the same place.
What difference does it make who they were?
When you come down to it we are HUMAN Beings.
People should not die due to these types of accidents.
How can you blame the children?? They did not ask to be here, all they want is to be loved.
I blame the person who sold them the hitch.
I blame the person who sold them the trailer.
I blame our government for not first having a
safety course before you can tow.
I blame the insurance industry for letting this go on.
I blame the manufactures that know they make a product that is just under the legal limit for inspections.
And LASTLY I blame the parents for not putting the children in child safety seats.
Shame on us for letting this happen.

Ron, I really am not sure where to start.

You write over and over that the responsibility lies with everyone but the consumer.

You absolve yourself and others and expect everyone else but the user to shoulder the blame for all problems caused.

To paraphrase you and others want the government out of your life.

THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW OTHERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LIFE.

And quit filling this thread with your onesided rhetoric.

Thank you for your point Nobody.

You want facts?? Fact here it is... I simply don't know of a product that is produced that causes this do you.
More than 65,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers occurred in 2004, jumping nearly 20 percent from the previous year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. In 2004 alone, accidents of vehicles with a trailing unit resulted in 422 deaths, 27,232 injuries and 46,737 instances of property damage only. The number of accidents, accidents that caused injuries and property damage all increased by approximately 20 percent in 2004 from the previous year.

So what do you have to say about that??

When will the lawyers start to sue?? I mean we sue for people who smoke?
We sue for people who use mowers to trim bushes.

We don't sue manufactuers who on purpose make them just under 3,000 pounds?

How about the Car and Truck companies. They put on hitches with no training on how to tow.

Who is responsibe?? You can't really put all the blame on the consumer..........

Can we?

Nobody...
Please read the attached report..
Then come back and tell me what you think?
O.K.
Give an honest answer Please? Pay attention to the last page. I am sorry nobody should like she did. She was a mother of 2
http://www.vcu.edu/cppweb/tstc/pdfs/TA14.pdf

Thank you for your point Nobody.

You want facts?? Fact here it is... I simply don't know of a product that is produced that causes this do you.
More than 65,000 crashes involving passenger vehicles towing trailers occurred in 2004, jumping nearly 20 percent from the previous year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. In 2004 alone, accidents of vehicles with a trailing unit resulted in 422 deaths, 27,232 injuries and 46,737 instances of property damage only. The number of accidents, accidents that caused injuries and property damage all increased by approximately 20 percent in 2004 from the previous year.

So what do you have to say about that??

When will the lawyers start to sue?? I mean we sue for people who smoke?
We sue for people who use mowers to trim bushes.

We don't sue manufactuers who on purpose make them just under 3,000 pounds?

How about the Car and Truck companies. They put on hitches with no training on how to tow.

Who is responsibe?? You can't really put all the blame on the consumer..........

Can we?

It happend again!!!
Go here to see another accident:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...
HAUGHTON — After three years, Alexis Popejoy had worn them just right.
To most, they were just a plain pair of blue Converse All-Stars. But for Alexis, they were perfect for running, riding 4-wheelers and whatever else the 10-year-old tomboy could find herself getting into in her family's Haughton neighborhood.
"She said the shoes made her run faster," said her cousin Laura Popejoy.
But Monday afternoon, the usual pitter-patter of those aged Chuck Taylors was replaced with unexpected quiet as family and friends grieved the loss of Alexis, 10, who died Sunday from injuries sustained in a weekend vehicle accident in Lincoln Parish.
Alexis, her brother Blaine, 13, and cousin Angelo Bryant, 6, were passengers in the vehicle that her father Mike Popejoy was driving. The accident happened after Mike Popejoy fell asleep at the wheel Saturday night as they returned home from Kilbourne.
"It was an accident," said sister-in-law Pam Popejoy. "It's devastating. Words can't explain the loss that we feel. We know we need prayer and strength from a higher power. Right now, we're taking it minute by minute."
Known as "Lexi" to her family and friends, the Princeton Elementary fourth-grader was a charming blond-haired, blue-eyed tomboy who loved to hunt, ride 4-wheelers and race neighborhood friends.
"She was fearless," said Laura Popejoy, 17, who was like a big sister to Alexis.
The two often exchanged late night phone calls, talked about boys and enjoyed spending time together. Learning of her death, was devastating, she said.
"It was surprising," Laura Popejoy said. "It still hasn't clicked in my head. I didn't think any of them would have died."
Mike Popejoy and the children traveled to Kilbourne on Saturday evening to make an automobile swap in Kilbourne using a trailer attached to his 2004 Ford pickup.
After trading cars and visiting family and friends, Popejoy and the children headed home around 9:30 p.m.
"I got gas and I was tired, but I said,'I'll fight it so we can get back," Mike Popejoy said. "The next thing I know, I was up, trying to steer the truck back onto the road. But the trailer hauling the car got caught on the side of the road and broke loose from the truck. It sling-shot the truck across the interstate and it flipped two or three times."
Alexis and Angelo were thrown from the vehicle. Both were transported to LSU Hospital with life-threatening injuries — Alexis with a collapsed lung and Angelo with injuries to his head and spleen.
Both Mike and Blaine Popejoy were transported to Lincoln General Hospital with moderate injuries. Alexis died while in surgery just after 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Angelo remains in critical condition at LSU Hospital.
The accident has been a devastating tragedy for the tightly-knit family.
"She's my baby girl," said her mother Kris Popejoy. "She's my life. I can't believe she's gone."
Older brother Blaine, 13, and Alexis were like two peas in a pod. They played together and fished together.
"She followed me everywhere," he said. "I'm going to miss everything about her."
As much as she was a tomboy, Alexis also was daddy's little girl, often traveling with him and her long-haired chihuahuas Princess and Jake, who also died in the accident.

i send my condolences to the family who lost there loved ones. I know somewhat of what they feel. myself was in a horrible car accident 7yrs ago and as well 10 months ago.... almost losing your loved one(s) its something you cant get out off your head. thank the lord that both my sons are stiil with me

1 pissed off mom wrote:

i send my condolences to the family who lost there loved ones. I know somewhat of what they feel. myself was in a horrible car accident 7yrs ago and as well 10 months ago.... almost losing your loved one(s) its something you cant get out off your head. thank the lord that both my sons are stiil with me

LOL, How can you possibly know how they feel? "Almost" losing a loved one is far from the same thing!

Who were this family??

Nobody has claimed the family... Where is the next of kin??

Ron Melancon wrote:

Who were this family??
Nobody has claimed the family... Where is the next of kin??

I wouldn't know Ron...but since the son was supposedly driving his fathers SUV I'm sure they will be along soon.

Rest in Peace young family. May your loved ones get through this difficult time with memories to carry them.

My niece Lexi died in that accident near Shreveport. My nephew Angelo is now bedridden and in a home for that type of care. My other nephew made it out alive, but it was his sister that died and he is still haunted by that loss today. This was a case of my Brother in Law falling asleep at the wheel. The horrific side to this story is his wife (my sister) was not in town that night but was arrving back the next day and the trip to go get this "car" was not urgently needed....he could have waited and probably not had 2 of the kids with him. Everything happens for a reason, but this loss have destroyed this family. I do believe the medical care that night in in a butof fault as they prioritized my nephew over my niece, because she was making noises and he was not. Turns out the drove her 20 miles to a hospital that couldn't care for her internal injuries, then DROVE her 70 miles to LSU med in Shreveport where she died. A lawsuit is in the works now and the 1st round of settlements have been offered etc. God bless the Popejoys for what they have gone through, say a prayer for them.