News

Reading news stories can be helpful to victims of Georgia accidents. Attorney Shane Smith provides news articles, research results and other information that may be of interest to victims of car crashes, pedestrian traffic accidents, and victims of DUI's.

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Auto Accidents

Two seriously injured when van crashes into Coweta County ambulance
Jul 23, 2010
Bad weather caused a pair of Coweta County rescue workers became accident victims last week when the ambulance they were driving was struck by a van in Newnan.

The Georgia car accident occurred on Saturday, July on Raymond Hill Road in Newnan. The driver of the van lost control of his vehicle and hydroplaned on the wet road. The van crashed into the ambulance. The impact caused the van to flip over several times. It finally came to rest in a ditch.

A mother and daughter were in the van. They were not wearing seat belts, and the impact of the crash caused them to be ejected from their vehicle.

Fortunately for the two women, the rescue workers in the ambulance were unharmed. Dennis Martin and James Field got out of the ambulance, gathered their supplies and went to help the women. Fourteen-year-old Ashley Saunders was taken to children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital. Her mother, 39-year-old Renae Saunders was taken to Atlanta Medical Center. Both victims sustained head injuries and were listed in critical condition.

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Two seriously injured when van crashes into Coweta County ambulance
Jul 23, 2010
Bad weather caused a pair of Coweta County rescue workers became accident victims last week when the ambulance they were driving was struck by a van in Newnan.

The Georgia car accident occurred on Saturday, July on Raymond Hill Road in Newnan. The driver of the van lost control of his vehicle and hydroplaned on the wet road. The van crashed into the ambulance. The impact caused the van to flip over several times. It finally came to rest in a ditch.

A mother and daughter were in the van. They were not wearing seat belts, and the impact of the crash caused them to be ejected from their vehicle.

Fortunately for the two women, the rescue workers in the ambulance were unharmed. Dennis Martin and James Field got out of the ambulance, gathered their supplies and went to help the women. Fourteen-year-old Ashley Saunders was taken to children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital. Her mother, 39-year-old Renae Saunders was taken to Atlanta Medical Center. Both victims sustained head injuries and were listed in critical condition.

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Stuck accelerator blamed for Lawrenceville crash
Jul 12, 2010
A stuck-accelerator is being blamed for a Georgia car accident that left two injured and a vehicle embedded inside a Sonic restaurant in Lawrenceville.

The Georgia car crash occurred on Sunday, July 11th at about 10:00 a.m. A driver was parking at a church on Grayson Avenue near the Lawrenceville Mall Shopping Center when the vehicle suddenly surged into the restaurant next door. The vehicle crashed into a wall near a cooling unit and was lodged about three feet into the building.

No one in the restaurant was injured. The man and woman inside the vehicle sustained minor injuries and were taken to Eastside Medical Center in Snellville for treatment.

The make and model of the vehicle have not been released.

Equipment failure is the fourth most common cause of Atlanta car crashes. Sudden acceleration has made headlines this year as millions of Toyota vehicles were recalled for several problems including sticky pedals that could cause sudden acceleration.

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Two seriously injured in Covington SUV – train accident
Jul 06, 2010
A couple is seriously injured after their SUV was hit by a train at a railroad crossing in Covington.

The accident occurred at about 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, July 3, 2010 bat the railroad crossing at North Emory Street near the Depot restaurant. An SUV Honda Pilot was travelling south on Georgia’s Highway 81. The crossing signal was blocking access to the track, but the driver of the SUV went around the arm of the crossing signal and attempted to beat the train.

The train was not able to stop. It crashed into the driver’s side of the vehicle and lifted the SUV. The impact blew out all the windows and flipped the Honda onto its roof. The vehicle was pushed about 50 yards down the t rack.

The occupants, Linda and Danny Long, were seriously injured. They were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for treatment of multiple injuries.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash.

Nearly 3000 railroad crossing accidents occur each year. Many occur in Atlanta because of the high number of railroad crossings. These accidents involve both cars and pedestrians.
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Driver injured in Cobb commuter bus crash
Jul 06, 2010
The driver of a commuter bus was seriously injured when the bus ran off the road near Powder Springs. Nineteen passengers were on board.

The bus did not overturn, but it tilted with the door against a tree. The passengers were forced to climb out the windows of the bus.

Reports say that the driver lost control of the bus due to a medical condition. The driver was rushed to the hospital for treatment of abdominal pain. Three passengers were also taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. A second bus was sent to transport the rest of the passengers.

In the U.S., about 350 million bus passengers travel a combined 28 million miles each year. As busses become a more popular commuting option, bus crash injuries are becoming more common. About 25 percent of bus crash fatalities involve pedestrians. Sixty percent involve a collision with a passenger car. It is important that drivers be properly trained and screened in order to keep passengers safe.

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Atlanta woman killed in scooter accident
Jun 23, 2010
A 55-year-old Atlanta woman has died after an accident where her scooter was rear-ended by an SUV.

The accident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Lynn Martin, a resident of Atlanta, was about to turn into her Peachtree Road home when she was rear-ended by a Toyota 4 Runner SUV. The impact sent her scooter through an intersection.

Martin was taken to a local hospital where she died from injuries sustained in the scooter crash.

The Toyota driver is expected to face charges.

Scooters drivers, motorcyclists and bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers who use Georgia roads. However, these vehicles do not offer the same protection as a car with a roof and airbags. In an accident, scooter drivers, bicyclists and motorcyclists are very likely to sustain serious injuries. It is the responsibility of other drivers to watch for scooter drivers and allow them to ride safely.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in an Atlanta scooter or motorcycle crash caused by a reckless driver, call The Law Offices of R. Shane Smith to learn more about your rights.
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Teen arrested for Atlanta car crash death of toddler
Jun 04, 2010
A 19-year-old is charged with vehicular homicide after causing an Atlanta car crash that killed a two-year-old boy.

Kelly Cantry was driving a white car on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway when she swerved and crossed the yellow line into the path of on-coming semi truck. The 18-wheeler careened off the road and into the Auto Zone parking lot where the big rig hit several cars.

Two-year-old Zion Churney and his 14-year-old cousin were in a parked car in the parking lot. The large truck crashed into the car, and the two boys were injured. They were taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where Zion died from his injuries. An adult was also injured.

Canty is charged with first degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and driving without license, insurance, or tag. Canty was denied bond and remains in Fulton County Jail.

The Law Offices of R. Shane Smith offer our sincere condolences to the family of Zion Churney.
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Three children injured in bad weather Fulton crash
May 22, 2010
Three young children were hospitalized after a head-on collision in south Fulton County.

The two car accident occurred at 3:45 pm on Friday, May 21. A Lincoln Aviator was travelling south on Buffington Road when it hydroplaned and struck a northbound Buick Park Avenue near the intersection with Flat Shoals Road.

A two-year-old and a three-year-old were ejected from the Aviator. The three-year-old sustained serious injuries and both children were taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. It is not known if the children were securely restrained in child safety seats. The driver of the Buick was unharmed.

The driver of the Buick was taken to South Fulton Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. His passenger was also injured and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. An infant was also in the car. She was restrained in a car seat and appeared to be uninjured, but was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston for evaluation.

The crash is under investigation, but officials say the accident is being blamed on wet roads and rainy weather.

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Lack of crosswalks to blame for Atlanta pedestrian accidents
May 17, 2010
Transportation for America, an organization which advocates against urban sprawl and in favor of walking and mass transit has rated the Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Marietta as the tenth most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians.

It may be that suburban roads are more dangerous than city streets. In the city, drivers travel at slow speeds and expect pedestrians. In the suburbs, drivers travel at high speeds on wide roads. There are few crosswalks, and drivers do not look for pedestrian.

The biggest danger is near bus stops. About one-quarter of Atlanta area pedestrian crashes occur within 100 feet of a bus stop; almost half occur within 300 feet. Many bus stops are miles from a crosswalk.

The most dangerous roads for pedestrians:

• Buford Highway in Dekalb and Gwinett Counties

• Tara Boulevard in Clayton

• Old National Highway in Fulton

• Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Fulton

• Six Flags Drive in Cobb

• Chandler Road in DeKalb

Accidents could be prevented with more crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and warning lights.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian car crash, you have rights. Call the Law Offices of R. Shane Smith to learn more.
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Woman killed, child injured in Cobb County 3 car wreck
May 09, 2010
Police expect to file charges against the driver who caused a three car wreck that killed a Paulding County woman and left her son critically injured.

Sixty-seven-year-old Jeffrey L. House of Powder Springs was driving a 1988 Jeep Comanche on Midway Road near Powder Springs on Friday, May 7. It was about 3 p.m. when he made a left turn onto Lost Mountain Road and pulled into the path of a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer. The Blazer was knocked into the path of a Honda Odyssey. That impact caused the Blazer to overturn.

The driver of the Blazer, 47-year-old Pennie Ann Cearfoss died at the scene. She had three passengers in her vehicle. Seventeen-year-old Joshua Cearfoss was flown to Atlanta Medical Center where he is listed as being in critical condition. His twin, Justin Cearfoss and another brother, Jeffrey Cearfoss, 25, were taken by ambulance to Atlanta Medical for treatment of their injuries. Neither 17-year-old was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The driver of the Honda, 61-year-old Anabelle Cordova of Powder Springs, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Two minor children in her vehicle were uninjured.

House was not injured. The accident is under investigation. It is unknown if alcohol is a factor.

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