3 kids ejected from car in Highway 225 wreck

Miraculously three children, two 4 year-olds and an 11 year-old, survived after a major car accident at Highway 225 and Broadway Street that ejected them from their vehicle.  KHOU's report says the children were not wearing seat belts when an SUV t-boned their car. The article doesn't indicate who was at fault for the crash. daragh@daraghcarter.com 

Three children survived being ejected during a t-bone intersection crash
last night at Highway 225 and Broadway.

Men drinking at Baker Street Pub in fatal drunk driving crash

Here's an interesting coincidence to ponder. 24-year old Baker Street Pub bartender Chelsea Wilburn was arrested four days ago, around 2:30 a.m. Saturday on a liquor violation charge. Around 2:30 this morning three men in a BMW sedan were involved in a single vehicle accident near Willowbrook Mall that resulted in the death of one passenger and a charge of intoxication manslaughter for the driver. Where had the BMW occupants allegedly been drinking before the fatal crash? Baker Street Pub.

Chelsea Wilburn arrest at Baker Street Pub: Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam, section chief of the vehicle crimes division, is proactively pursuing not just drunk drivers but the bars that over-serve them. Diepraam said Chelsea Wilburn was placed in jail and then released on $750 bond. Montgomery County's "Bar and Cars" task force was formed earlier this year to try to stem the tide of intoxication manslaughter charges, many of which involved high-profile wrong-way head-on crashes that resulted in multiple fatalities. Purportedly Ms. Wilburn was arrested after undercover officers posing as customers at Baker Street Pub observed her selling liquor to a man who was stumbling drunk and yelling racial epithets. 

Baker Street Pub bartender Chelsea
Wilburn was arrested Saturday.

Willowbrook Mall fatal BMW crash: around 2:30 a.m. this morning Houston Police Department says Mr. Asif Aejaz, driver of a blue BMW sedan took a corner too fast near Willowbrook Mall at Tomball Parkway and FM 1960, jumping a curb and smashing through a metal and brick fence. The impact to the passenger side of the vehicle was apparently severe: the front seat passenger died at the scene. The rear seat passenger was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, and Asif Aejaz was not hurt. 

According to Channel 11's story on the crash, Aejaz admitted to police that he and his passengers had been drinking at Baker Street Pub before the crash, but he refused a field sobriety test (however HPD took him to the hospital for a mandatory blood draw). It appears Aejaz has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.  An article on Houston News 92 FM's site states this is not 41-year old Aejaz' first brush with the law. He has previously faced a sexual assault charge stemming from a May 15 incident where he is alleged to have drugged and date raped a woman he was having drinks with at...wait for it...Baker Street Pub near Willowbrook Mall.

HPD believes the driver of this 3-series BMW sedan was drunk when he
left the roadway, colliding with a fence and killing the front seat passenger

Asif Aejaz is charged with
intoxication manslaughter

A collision with this brick and metal fence severely damaged the passenger
side of the BMW sedan.

Medical center shuttle bus crash kills 1, injures 11

About 5:45 p.m. yesterday a shuttle bus used to transport people who work in the Houston Medical Center crashed into a utility pole, killing a person standing next to the pole and injuring 11 people on the shuttle bus. The wreck, at Holcombe and Braeswood, appears to have been the result of the shuttle bus driver losing control due to some medical condition. A Houston Fire Department Deputy Chief told Channel 11 that it appears a passenger on the bus tried to steer the vehicle after the driver lost control. People who witnessed the crash, both pedestrians and other drivers, rushed to try and assist the woman who was pinned but despite their efforts they were unable to physically push the wrecked bus off her. The passengers in the bus were trapped because the doors would not open and had to be forced open. A total of 17 people were on the bus: 11 were taken for medical attention. The passenger who bravely attempted to control the bus suffered a wrist injury. The name of the woman who died in the accident has not yet been released. Channel 11's story did not identify the entity that operated the shuttle bus service. Channel 2's story. 

Update: the deceased pedestrian victim has been identified as Carlet Blake, aged 43, an insurance specialist who worked at MD Anderson in the medical center. According to Channel 11, Ms. Blake's funeral will be held next Saturday in Beaumont. The driver of the shuttle has also been identified: he is 54-year old Henry Foots.

Update: the operator of the shuttle service is SLL Transportation, LLC in Houston, Texas. The company's web site indicates that they carry "high limit insurance." 

daragh@daraghcarter.com

A woman standing next to this utility was killed when she was struck by an
out-of-control shuttle bus in the medical center. 111 others were injured.

I-10 motorcycle accident throws rider off overpass

A motorcyclist fell 30 to 40 feet after an accident yesterday and was rushed to hospital.  The facts aren't very clear from Channel 13's report, but it appears the motorcycle rider either swerved to avoid an 18-wheeler or was in a collision with an 18-wheeler, causing him to fall off an elevated portion of Interstate 10 East. Fortunately it appears the man was wearing a helmet, which may have saved his life. A gold-colored Toyota sedan appears in Channel 13's video footage (see below) and the vehicle has passenger side front end damage, but again, there's no indication that vehicle was involved in the motorcycle accident.

Head-on crash breaks paramedic's leg, kills SUV driver Anwar Johnson

A major car accident Monday morning in southeast Houston killed the driver of an SUV and injured five paramedics, breaking one paramedic's leg. The City of Houston Fire Dept paramedics were transporting a heart patient when the speeding SUV crashed head-on into the ambulance at Holman Street and St. Charles Street around 4:00 a.m. The SUV driver, 35-year old father of four Anwar Johnson, was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, however police believe Johnson may have been speeding. Read KHOU's story here.

Photo credit: Malini Basul / KHOU Ch 11 News

Contact a Dog Bite Attorney for Your Child

Dog bites are unfortunately a common problem in today’s world. It seems as though everyone has a dog, but few people really take the responsibility seriously. Untrained and dangerous dogs run rampant, and the need for dog bite attorneys is at an all time high. That doesn’t mean that all dogs are dangerous, but it does mean that you have to take precautions when you are out with the little ones. Even if you take those precautions, though, the need for a dog bite attorney might arise. Bites to children can be very damaging, so make sure that you have a great dog bite attorney who can help you.

Children are smaller and they are delicate. A bite from a dog, even a small dog, can do quite a bit of damage to a child. Dog bite attorneys see all types of wounds with these attacks. Torn flesh and broken bones, damaged skulls and more are all par for the course with large dog bites. Nerve damage is another issue. Dog bite attorneys know that these bites can cause injuries that will be with the child a lifetime. If your child is the victim of a dog bite, it’s time that you contacted a dog bite attorney.

Make sure that you have information about the owner of the animal if you are able to get it. The more information you have for the dog bite attorney, the easier it is going to be to proceed. Dog bite attorneys want to help you, and they will take on any owner to make sure that you receive justice. If you know the owner and are friends, you still have to put your child first. Medical bills and therapy are expensive, and you need help. The person’s homeowner insurance should be able to help to pay for the damages. Talk with a dog bite attorney about how you should proceed for your child’s case.

Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers Find Justice

Have you been listening to the news lately? It seems that you can hardly turn on the television or read a paper without seeing more information about negligence in nursing homes. Nursing home negligence lawyers are busy because these abuses are unfortunately common today. If you fear that someone in your life is suffering negligence at the hands of a facility, contact a nursing home negligence lawyer to help you unravel the case. The nursing home negligence lawyer that you choose will be able to dig into the allegations of abuse and help you and your family to receive the justice that you deserve.

Nursing home negligence lawyers want to give you help, and they want to make sure that your family members receive better care. They will fight to ensure that you receive compensation from the homes so that you can provide that care for your loved one. The nursing home negligence lawyer on your case also wants to makes sure that the facility accused of negligence no longer causes harm to their patients.

You should make sure that you take the time to find a qualified nursing home negligence lawyer though. One of the first things that you are going to want to do is look for firms that can offer many years – or decades – of experience. Those attorneys will have seen cases of negligence before, and you can be sure that the nursing home negligence lawyers will have the capability to handle the nursing home’s lawyers. It is time that the home’s pay for what they’ve done and nursing home negligence lawyers are fighting the good fight to ensure that. Make sure that you look for a nursinghome negligence lawyer if you suspect any type of neglect could be happening at the home where your loved one resides.

A Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Makes a Tough Time Easier

Many people have dogs as pets. They can make wonderful companions, and they are great for the most part. However, some dogs are going to bite. Those bites cause severe damage and emotional distress. Contact a dog bite injury lawyer if you or someone in the family received a bite from a dog. The dog bite accident lawyer is going to be able to make sure that you get the help you need for your injuries in terms of monetary compensation. The dog bite injury lawyer is going to be your best friend when you are dealing with this type of case.

Finding help with a dog bite injury lawyer is a necessity in today’s world, as it can be difficult to make people pay for their negligence without an attorney. The dog bite injury lawyer that you hire should be able to help you find the owner of the dog if you can’t, but you will want to contact your attorney as soon as possible. The problem with these types of cases is that they are subject to a statute of limitations. This means that if you don’t file your case within a certain timeframe – often a year with these types of cases – then you won’t ever be able to file. Get in touch with a dog bite injury lawyer now.

Once you are working with a dog bite accident lawyer, you should provide him or her with as much information as you are able to gather about the case. Having witness names and even statements, as well as photos, can be quite beneficial to the dog bite injury lawyer. The more you are able to provide the better off you will be in most cases. Set up a consultation with a dog bite accident lawyer today to get the help you need.

Thanksgiving Day fog causes massive pile-up accident on Interstate 10

Two Pearland residents were killed and tens of others injured in a massive pile-up accident on Interstate 10 on Thanksgiving Day. The wreck happened on I-10 East near Winnie around 8:00 a.m. shutting down the highway in both directions. The westbound lanes were reopened within a few hours but the eastbound lanes remained closed most of Thanksgiving Day. Between 140 and 150 vehicles were involved, including numerous 18-wheeler trucks. There were 80-90 people injured in the pileup: those people were transported to area hospitals. The apparent cause of the wreck was fog on the roadway combined with sunlight impairing visibility and setting off rear-end accidents.

The Pearland couple killed in the accident, Vincent Leggio and his wife Debbie Leggio, were part of an extremely close family and their loss is being powerfully felt. Mr. Leggio and his son, Vincent, Jr. worked together at Vinco Electric in Pearland, an electrician business they operated together. The Leggio's white-colored Chevrolet Suburban was impacted by a tractor trailer, crushing the SUV.

Channel 11's initial report is here. Channel 2 story. Channel 13 story. FOX News' story.

Update: in a story posted on 03/28/2013 to Channel 2's web site it was announced that a Jefferson County grand jury decided to no-bill 18-wheeler driver Richard Kerr. Kerr was operating the 18-wheeler that crashed into the rear of the Leggio's stalled SUV. Texas Department of Public Safety officials had recommended Kerr be charged with negligent homicide.

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Photo credit: Scott Lawrence/KFDM

Let a Car Accident Lawyer in Illinois Help with Your Financial Problems

When you get into an accident, especially an accident that is not your fault, you are going to find that you have quite a few new financial problems, as many a car accident lawyer in Illinois will be able to attest. Depending on the level of insurance you have and the damage to the vehicle, you might not have a car. A car accident lawyer in Illinois is going to be able to make sure that you have the damages that you need for your injuries and to deal with the other financial issues caused by the accident. The car accident attorney in Illinois will want to know all of the circumstances surrounding your case to make sure that they tackle the case the right way and get the money you deserve.

Your car accident lawyer in Illinois will be able to tell you about all of the other financial problems that might head your way too. The medical bills can pile on quickly, and even those with insurance can find that they are expensive. Let the car accident attorney in Illinois help ensure that you receive damages that can pay for your medical expenses. Your car accident attorney in Illinois can do even better though.

Sometimes, the accident is so severe that you are going to be out of work for a few days, weeks, or even permanently. In situations such as those, the car accident lawyer in Illinois will fight to make sure that you have damages that will help you financially. When you’ve been the victim in an accident, you do not deserve to lead a lesser life. Let your car accident attorney in Illinois help you get the deserved compensation. Take the time to speak with a car accident attorney in Illinois as soon as you are able.

Jennifer Nicole Molina charged in drunk driving death of Evelyn Galindo

21-year old Jennifer Nicole Molina is charged with intoxication manslaughter after a Sunday morning car accident that left Evelyn Galindo dead. Galindo was driving a Honda Civic and was rear-ended by a Nissan Versa around 3:20 a.m. at the 10100 block of the North Freeway feeder road just south of West Road. The Honda Civic then slammed into a concrete pillar. Molina's Versa crashed through a chain link fence and stopped in a parking lot, police said. Galindo was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Molina called a relative who came to the accident scene and picked her up, leaving her car in the parking lot, but the relative talked Molina into returning to the scene: she was given a sobriety test and had blood drawn, police said.

According to what appears to be Jennifer Nicole Molina's Facebook page, Molina is a 2010 graduate of Klein Forest High School and is studying at Lone Star College. Channel 11's story is here.

Jennifer Nicole Molina

Deputy Felix Dlouhy critically injured in car accident

A HCSO deputy is currently in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital after a major car accident Monday morning.  Deputy Felix Dlouhy's patrol car was broadsided (t-boned) by a white-colored Chevrolet Tahoe SUV on Beltway 8 at Crosby Freeway around 2:30 a.m.  The police car was forced up an embankment in the crash and a woman was ejected from the SUV.  

Deputy Dlouhy was taken by life flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann where his condition was listed as critical but stable. Sergeant Dlouhy has been with Harris County Sheriff's Office since 1982 and is a supervisor in the department. Channel 2's story is here.

Update: A story on Channel 13's web site indicates that the collision may actually have been Deputy Dlouhy's fault. The story identifies the driver of the white SUV as 23-year old Megan Vickers who was driving home to Crosby alone in her vehicle after watching Twilight at the movie theater. According to the story, Deputy Dlouhy was the fourth patrol unit to go through the intersection with lights and sirens activated, but the Deputy's lights changed to red as he went through, causing the collision.  Megan Vickers suffered a broken arm in the crash.

Megan Vickers suffered a broken arm.
Photo credit: Facebook.

Scene of this morning's crash involving HCSO Deputy Felix Dlouhy.

Black Elk Energy rig fire - workers killed and injured

A fire at Black Elk Energy's West Delta 32 rig in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday killed one worker, another worker is missing and many others were burned and injured.

John Hoffman, CEO of Houston-based Black Elk Energy, said in an email Saturday evening that a contracted dive vessel had recovered the body of one missing worker and the search for a second worker remains underway. Two workers remain in critical condition at Baton Rouge General Hospital's Burn Center. On Friday, the day of the incident, a spokesperson with West Jefferson Medical Center, where injured workers were taken initially, said four workers had suffered second and third degree burns over a large portion of their bodies. The men were later transported to Baton Rouge General.

U.S. Coast Guard photo of Black Elk Energy's West Delta 32 rig: one
worker died, one is missing and several others were severely burned
in an explosion and fire on Friday November 16th.

At a Saturday press conference, a hospital official said the four burned workers are from the Philippines, which has made notifying family a challenge. 11 workers in total were air-lifted to Louisiana for medical attention, and the remaining seven workers were treated by paramedics near the shore of Grand Isle, LA and then released. At a press conference at noon on Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard said a total of 22 workers were on the West Delta 32 platform at the time of the explosion.

Hoffman said that the men working the rig, which produces oil and natural gas, are not employees of Black Elk Energy, but instead are contractors. A story posted to Bloomberg BusinessWeek's web site identifies the contractor that employed the workers as Grand Isle Shipyard. Black Elk Energy's home page includes a link to a status update on the incident. Grand Isle Shipyard is currently facing a lawsuit (unrelated to Friday's explosion) from a group of former workers from The Philippines claiming they were forced to work in cramped condition for long hours for substandard pay: the lawsuit, filed in late 2011 in federal court in Louisiana, is pending.

Black Elk Energy CEO
John Hoffman.

Tad LeBlanc, V.P. Health,
Safety, Environmental
& Compliance.

What caused the fire? A KHOU news story states that at the time of the fire, workers were cutting a 75 foot length of 3" diameter pipe that contained as much as 75 gallons of product, according to CEO Hoffman. This process calls for a cold cutting device, a tool that does not spark, however Hoffman confirmed a cutting torch was used instead, causing the product inside the pipe to ignite. The platform was not in production at the time of the fire and appears to be structurally sound, but the Coast Guard says there is a half-mile by 200-yard sheen coming from the platform.

Previous accidents involving Black Elk Energy: In August a crane was lowering two workers into a basket when there was an equipment failure, according to Federal records. The two workers in the basket fell into the Gulf, but were not seriously injured. In February 2011, a small fire broke out on a Black Elk Energy platform: a battery charger was blamed for that incident. In September 2011, Black Elk Energy paid a $307,000 fine for failure to do a leak test on a safety valve, and it took them 117 days to fix the problem once it was identified.

Injured workers' rights:  Depending on the facts and circumstances, persons injured at work   may be entitled to recover damages from their employer and/or third parties responsible for the incident that injured them. Injured workers should seek competent legal advice as soon as possible to ensure their rights and protected, and absolutely should avoid signing any documents that may affect their legal rights.

Nais ko ang nasugatan manggagawa ng pinakamahusay at kapayapaan ng isip para sa kanilang mga pamilya sa Pilipinas. daragh@daraghcarter.com