Monthly Archives: June 2010

2 dead, 4 injured in Phoenix crash

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Two people are dead and four others hospitalized with serious injuries following a crash in Phoenix.

Police spokesman Trent Crump says the driver of a car carrying six people lost control and slammed into a tree on Thomas Avenue in west Phoenix Sunday night. He says two people were dead at the scene and four others were ejected. All four were hospitalized in critical or serious condition.

The victims ranged in age from age 18 to 3. Crump says the 3-year-old was in critical condition. He says police are looking for a black pickup truck that might have played a role in the accident.

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Off-duty Phoenix officer hurt, his passenger killed in car accident

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A collision in north Phoenix has left one woman dead and an off-duty Phoenix police officer seriously hurt, police said.

The fatal collision occurred about 10:30 p.m. Sunday near 19th Avenue and Happy Valley Road, said Luis Samudio of the Phoenix Police Department.A 39-year-old man was traveling westbound on Happy Valley Road in a Jeep Cherokee when he apparently drove left of the center and crossed over the raised median, according to investigators.

The Jeep collided with a Ford F-150 pickup that was traveling eastbound on Happy Valley Road, Samudio said. Lisa M. Lechtenberg, 27, was in the passenger seat of the pickup and died as a result of extensive injuries from the collision, Samudio said.

A 28-year-old off-duty Phoenix police officer was driving the pickup and was seriously hurt. He was taken to a Valley hospital and was still there Tuesday, Samudio said. Further details on his condition were not immediately released.

The driver of the Jeep sustained serious injuries but was expected to survive, Samudio said. Two children, 5 and 7 years old, were also in the Jeep and suffered minor injuries.

According to investigators, the driver of the Jeep might have suffered a medical incident before the collision, Samudio said.

There were no indications of impairment from either driver.

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Laura Bush recalls “Guilt” after fatal accident

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An event that she says has filled her with guilt her whole life, former First Lady Laura Bush reflects with Oprah Winfrey about the November 1963 car crash in Midland, Texas, that killed her high school friend.

Mrs. Bush opens up about the accident, saying it occurred when she was rushing to a drive-in movie and ran a stop sign, hitting the car of her school’s star athlete, Mike Douglas. Douglas passed away following the collision.

The former first lady tells Oprah that the accident was never talked about and that she never spoke with the Douglas family again. “I wanted to go to the funeral but I could tell my parents didn’t want me to go,” Mrs. Bush disclosed. “I felt guilty for my whole life.”

She continued, “You can move on … but you can never forget.”

Mrs. Bush’s memoir Spoken from the Heart is out on bookshelves today.

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Whirlpool recalls 1.7 million dishwashers

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(Reuters) – Whirlpool Corp is recalling 1.7 million dishwashers sold at its U.S. stores from February 2006 through April 2010 due to a potential fire hazard.

The recall, made by the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, covers Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley branded dishwashers.

An electrical failure in the dishwasher’s heating element could pose a serious fire hazard, the top appliance maker said in a statement on Thursday.

The company received 12 reports of dishwasher heating element failures that resulted in fires. No injuries have been reported.

The affected units were sold at various U.S. stores for between $250 and $900.

Whirlpool spokeswoman Jill Saletta said in an email the company has already set aside $75 million to address any potential costs from the recall.

In a regulatory filing in April, the company had warned about a potential charge due to “a corrective action to address a supplier-related quality and potential product safety issue.”

Whirlpool shares were down 3 percent at $100.54 on Thursday afternoon.

Chrysler recalling about 600,000 Jeeps, minivans

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DETROIT — Chrysler is recalling nearly 600,000 minivans and Jeep Wranglers because of brake or wiring problems that could create safety issues and possibly fatal accidents, the company and federal regulators said Monday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website the automaker is recalling 288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2006 through 2010 model years due to a potential brake fluid leak.

It also is recalling 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years because a wiring problem can cause a fire inside the sliding doors.

Neither problem has caused any crashes or injuries, according to Chrysler Group LLC.

On the Jeeps, the front inner fender liners can rub against the brake fluid tubes and cause a leak. NHTSA says the leak could lead to a partial brake loss.

The minivans can have improperly placed wires that can come into contact with sliding door hinges. That could cut through the insulation and in rare cases cause a fire inside the door, Chrysler and NHTSA said.

Chrysler will notify owners and dealers about the repairs, which will be made free of charge. The recall is expected to start later this month. The Wranglers affected by the recall were made from May 15, 2006 through Aug. 9, 2010, according to NHTSA. The minivans were made from February 2007 through September 2007.

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