Un camión choca en la U.S. 30 y deja dos heridos

Date: December 28, 2009
Ubicación: U.S. Highway 30, Astoria, Oregon
Nombres: Wesley James Garrett, Frank F. Boncz, Stanley C. Baller, Jr., Jamie Bryan Pellham

Icy roads may have contributed to a crash December 28, 2009, on U.S. Highway 30 near Svensen Junction, in Astoria, Oregon, in which two people were injured.

Según The Daily Astorian, the crash occurred around 6 AM when Stanley C. Baller, Jr., 38, of Clatskanie, attempted to pass a bus and lost control of his truck. The truck spun around, and its passenger side hit several large trees.

Two passengers seated on the right side of the truck, Wesley James Garrett, 19, of Rainier, and Frank F. Boncz, 51, of Clatskanie, suffered broken bones and other injuries. They were transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, then airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for further treatment.

The driver, Baller, and a third passenger, Jamie Bryan Pellham, 33, of Rainier, were unhurt.

Oregon State Police, Knappa Fire District, and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

We send our personal wishes and thoughts to Garrett and Boncz. We hope your recovery is a quick one.

With the holidays just behind us, there could be snow ahead. It is always important to watch out for ice on the road. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” warns that better cars, better roads, and better tires don’t take the place of careful driving.

Among ODOT’s tips:

• En nieve o niebla, conduzca con las luces bajas encendidas. Y mantenga los faros limpios; los faros sucios pueden reducir la visibilidad a la mitad.
•    Sujete firmemente el volante. No gire bruscamente; si derrapa, corrija el rumbo del automóvil con suavidad.
• Aumente la distancia de seguimiento y luego auméntela un poco más. ODOT recomienda al menos tres veces la distancia de seguimiento normal en nieve o hielo.
• Planifica con antelación para las intersecciones.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.
• Si te encuentras con una placa de hielo, suelta el acelerador y deja que tu auto “ruede” a través de ella.
• Recuerda que los límites de velocidad publicados son para condiciones secas, no para lluvia, nieve, aguanieve o hielo. Reduce la velocidad durante el clima invernal.

What if, despite your careful driving, you – or someone you love – is injured in a car crash? You probably have lots of questions, and our car accident lawyers in Portland can help you answer many questions at no charge.