Camioneta choca en autopista helada

Date: February 18, 2010
Ubicación: Oregon 6 (NW Wilson River Highway) near Banks, Oregon
Nombres: Joseph Romero, Mark Hanson

Two drivers were seriously injured in a head-on collision between a FedEx van and a pickup truck February 18, 2010, on an icy stretch of road on Oregon 6 (NW Wilson River Highway) near Banks, Oregon, according to The Oregonian.

The truck driver, Joseph Romero, 32, of Hillsboro, was traveling west on the highway, near mile marker 37, when he lost control around 8 AM and spun into the eastbound lane. A FedEx van driven by Mark Hanson, 50, of Tillamook, crashed into the truck.

Both drivers were taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with serious injuries. Hanson was transported by Life Flight and Romero by ambulance. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

Although we have seen some beautiful spring weather in Oregon, it is still extremely important to watch for patches of ice. 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.

Tips for Winter (and Early Spring) Driving:

• 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.

Qué hacer ahora:

•    Be prepared. Take a moment today to double-check your owner’s manual for the best braking technique for your car. Then, stash an emergency kit in the trunk.
Lee nuestro consejos para conducir bajo la lluvia.
• Siempre asegúrate de que tú y tus pasajeros lleven puesto el cinturón de seguridad.

We send our prayers and wishes to Romero and Hanson, and to all their family members. We hope you will be completely recovered soon, and please know that we are thinking of you.

The moments and days after a crash are the most important. First, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should have a record of anything after the accident in case the pains become more serious. Second, either you, a friend or family member, or a qualified attorney, should collect evidence from the accident scene. Evidence can disappear quickly, so doing this while your loved one is in the hospital is of extreme importance. We understand that you may not want to do this while you or your loved one is in the hospital, so you may want to ask an attorney to do it for you.

Los meses posteriores a un accidente también son importantes. Existen plazos para presentar una reclamación si ha estado en un accidente. Y a veces no podrá volver a trabajar, por lo que comenzará a preocuparse por el pago de las facturas médicas y la pérdida de ingresos. Todas estas son cosas estresantes, y no ayuda que la compañía de seguros no lo deje en paz, pero tampoco le ayudarán. Así que, por favor, no dude en llamarnos o solicitar una copia gratuita de nuestro libro., 7 errores comunes que pueden arruinar tu caso de accidente en Oregón. Nuestro sitio web tiene consejos útiles y, lo que no cubrimos allí, estaremos más que felices de responderlo nosotros mismos.