Behind the Wheel
- Miracle kid' has face rebuilt
“When a 4-year-old girl's face and skull were shattered to pieces in a crash on the State Thruway, doctors mended the bones together with sugar-based compounds.”
“Peyton Bean was airlifted by Mercy Flight from the Sept. 25, 2014, crash in Ontario County to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she spent 11 days on life support in an induced coma and five more days recovering. She was admitted as a level one trauma patient, the most serious.”
“Peyton suffered 14 different injuries - some of which are listed as ‘multiple fractures’ … she was in the back passenger's seat as her father drove … Her father, Bryan Tanner, 25, was smoking marijuana in the car before he lost control and hit a tree.”
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- 3 killed, including 2 kids, in 5 vehicle crash / ABC News
“The Alameda County Coroner's office identified two victims of the fatal I-880 crash in Fremont Tuesday night. They are 14-year-old Christy Limas and 9-year-old Brooke Limas.”
“Dang Nguyen Hai Tran, 21, was driving a Toyota Camry involved in the crash and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana.”
“'Driving under the influence, whether it's alcohol or drugs, the outcome is the same. It's dangerous. It kills people,’ said CHP Officer Manuel Leal.”
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AAA has been talking about the link between marijuana and fatal crashes for years.
- Fatal Crashes Involving Drivers Who Test Positive for Marijuana Increase After State Legalizes Drug
“A concerning number of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes are testing positive for recent use of marijuana, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.”
“The share of drivers who, after a fatal crash, tested positive for active THC – the drug’s main psychoactive ingredient – has doubled since the state legalized marijuana.”
“This study enabled us to review a full 10-years’ worth of data about the potential impact of marijuana on driving safety – and it raises significant concerns.”
“Marijuana use can inhibit concentration, slow reaction times and cloud judgment. Its effects vary by individual, but a number of studies have concluded that marijuana use impairs the ability to drive safely. Previous research suggests that users who drive high are up to twice as likely to be involved in a crash.”
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The Auto Insurance Industry is talking about this too.
- First States to Legalize Marijuana See Rise in Car Insurance Claims, Research Shows
“Crashes are up by as much as six percent in Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, compared with neighboring states that haven’t legalized marijuana for recreational use, according to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).”
“The new IIHS-HLDI research on marijuana and crashes indicates that legalizing marijuana for all uses is having a negative impact on the safety of our roads … States exploring legalizing marijuana should consider this effect on highway safety.”
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- Report finds increase in car insurance rate; Marijuana, distracted driving blamed https://www.wcvb.com/article/report-finds-increase-in-car-insurance-rate-marijuana-distracted-driving-blamed/26946952#
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- NBC Today Show: Driving while high on marijuana causing spike in fatal accidents - http://www.today.com/health/driving-while-high-marijuana-causing-spike-fatal-accidents-t91746
“After the accident, Mary Gaston learned that the driver of the car that hit her son's motorcycle, 33-year-old Caleb Floyd, admitted he had been smoking pot.”
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- Driver of truck that hit church bus killing 13 was high on marijuana - http://metrovoicenews.com/driver-of-truck-that-hit-church-bus-killing-13-was-high-on-marijuana/
“‘The pick-up truck driver in this crash made terrible choices with tragic consequences,’ NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a news release.”
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- 9-year old girl killed by Inattentive Driver Possessing Marijuana
“Delaware State Police have identified and charged the the man who was wanted connection with a fatal child hit and run … McConnell is charged with operation of a vehicle causing death of another person, inattentive driving, leaving scene of a collision resulting in death, failure to report a collision resulting in injury or death, and possession of marijuana.”