Monthly Archives: September 2010

Car accidents rose after states banned texting

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Laws banning texting while driving actually may prompt a slight increase in Car accidents, research suggests.

The findings, to be unveiled today at a national meeting of traffic-safety professionals, come amid a heightened national debate over distracted driving.“Texting bans haven’t reduced crashes at all,” says Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, whose research arm studied the effectiveness of the laws.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia ban texting while driving. Arizona does not have a ban, though Phoenix does.

The assertion that those efforts are futile will be a major issue at this week’s annual meeting of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute compared rates of collision insurance claims in four states – California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington – before and after they enacted texting bans. Accident rates rose in three of the states after bans were enacted.

The Highway Loss group theorizes that drivers try to evade police by lowering their phones when texting, increasing the risk by taking their eyes even further from the road and for a longer time.

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Phoenix Interstate 10 wrong-way crash kills 2

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The man behind the wheel of a pickup driving into oncoming traffic on Interstate 10 collided with a sedan, killing its two occupants early Saturday morning, police said.

Robert Bailey, an Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman, said officers at the scene believe Alex Naranjo was drinking and driving when his blue Chevrolet Avalanche truck slammed into a white Nissan Altima at 4:45 a.m. in the eastbound HOV lane between 24th and 32nd streets.

The driver of the Nissan, Adrice Lynn McMichael, 22, died at the scene, officials said. Her passenger, Malissa Therese Jaime, 24, died in route to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, officials said.

Naranjo was critically injured and admitted to a local hospital.

The accident forced closures on both Interstate 10 and Interstate 17.

Eastbound I-10 was closed until 8 a.m., when the right two lanes were reopened between 24th and 32nd streets and University Drive, a DPS statement said. The freeway was fully reopened at about 10 a.m.

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Recall: Bentley replacing hood ornament

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BERLIN (AP) — Luxury carmaker Bentley says it’s recalling 820 cars worldwide over fears that its famous “Winged B” hood ornament could injure people in a motor vehicle accident because it might not properly retract.

Bentley Motors’ European head office in Berlin said Thursday the recall affects 620 cars in the United States and Canada and 200 in Europe who added the raised hood ornament as an option on Arnage, Brooklands and Azure models made between October 2006 and March 2009.

The company says no injuries have been reported but a dealer noticed the spring mechanism under the ornament has a tendency to corrode and might not always function properly.

Bentley, owned by Volkswagen AG, will replace the mechanism free and says the work takes about an hour to complete

Flagstaff bicyclist dies from head injury suffered after being hit by car

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FLAGSTAFF – The Flagstaff Police Department has identified a man struck and killed in a bicycle accident on September 16.

David Cornelius, 59, was struck by a vehicle as he was traveling east on University Drive while attempting to ride straight through the intersection on a green light. The vehicle was making a left hand turn coming from the opposite direction.

Cornelius sustained major head injuries as a result of the accident. He was not wearing a safety helmet.

Cornelius died on Sunday evening from the massive head injuries he suffered.

The investigation into the accident continues.

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Hip-hop musician and motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash

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Emcee Abay Lattin, stage name Carnegie, and an unnamed motorcyclist died following a Car accident about 3:15 a.m. Carnegie is part of the rising hip-hop duo Silver Medallion.

Lattin and his driver had just left Del Taco and were eastbound on University Drive when an SUV exiting The Quadrangles apartment complex, 1255 E. University Drive, collided with Lattin’s car.

According to witnesses, a motorcyclist crashed into the wreckage shortly after the previous accident occurred and just before police and paramedics arrived on scene, Tempe police said.

Lattin, 25, was pronounced dead on site. The motorcyclist was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, police said.

The drivers and SUV passenger were treated for non-life threatening injuries at the scene and at area hospitals.

Police said the driver of the SUV is under investigation for drinking and driving.

The crash ended the life and career of a promising musician.

Silver Medallion made its start in Scottsdale but just a few months ago had moved to Brooklyn, said Lattin’s partner Oren J. Schauble, stage name Oren J.

Lattin grew up in Arizona. “He was just an amazing guy and artist,” Schuable said. “He dedicated himself completely to music.”

The pair met about three years ago in Scottsdale and soon after formed Silver Medallion, known for its fresh sound of blending different types of music including dance, contemporary, hip-hop and electronica.

“It is something very 2010,” Schauble said.

The group had started to break onto the national pop scene.

The duo had been on an East Coast tour but recently returned to Arizona to perform Thursday at the N9NE Fest in Tucson; they also performed Friday at Scottsdale’s Hotel Theodore, Schauble said.

Silver Medallion’s Saturday concert was canceled, but a concert Sunday at Scottsdale’s Martini Ranch will be turned into a tribute, Schauble said.

Schauble said he and friends spent Saturday sharing stories and remembering Lattin’s jokes. “It brought some smiles to an otherwise dark day,” he said.

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