In December 2008, Washington, D.C. paramedics made a medical misdiagnosis that cost a 39-year-old man his life. When Edward Givens told paramedics he was having difficulty breathing and experiencing chest pains, their recommendation was to take some Pepto Bismol for what they said was acid reflux. Mr. Givens later died from what was...
Read MoreGeneral Personal Injury
15 Injured in Virginia School Bus-Van Collision
Last month, a school bus and a van collided head-on at approximately 8:20 a.m. in Suffolk, Virginia. The bus accident occurred when the 32-year-old van driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and veered across the double lines into oncoming traffic. Twenty-five students, grades 2 to...
Read MoreMTA Talking Buses will Alert Pedestrians
Ten Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) buses are equipped with talking technology to warn pedestrians who may be unaware of an approaching bus. An audible female voice alerts pedestrians, “Pedestrians, bus is turning! Pedestrians, bus is turning!” The MTA is testing two different audio warning systems to help avoid devastating bus-pedestrian accidents. According to the...
Read MoreDC Construction Worker Killed On-Site
A Washington, D.C. construction worker lost his life last month when a heavy load of clay-like dirt collapsed on him in northeast DC. The construction accident happened when workers were performing utility work in a trench on Evarts Street. According to a fire department spokesperson, rescue workers arrived at the work site shortly...
Read MoreMetro Train Hits Woman at Rhode Island Avenue
A Metro train struck a woman at the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood station last month at around 2:24 p.m. The accident victim apparently trapped herself between the third rail and the chain link fence when the train accident occurred. Rescuers moved the 23-year-old victim to the platform...
Read More9-Year-Old DC Student Alleges Classroom Sexual Assault
A nine-year-old male student in the third grade at Randle Highlands Elementary in southeast DC claims two other male students sexually assaulted him this past February. The victim said he was working at a computer when the two alleged attackers began taunting him. The boy claims one boy dropped his pants while the...
Read MoreAd Campaign Seeks to Curb Pedestrian-Vehicle Collisions
This spring, law enforcement will ticket pedestrians, bikers and drivers in DC who do not obey traffic laws. That is the purpose of the Street Smart campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the rise in pedestrian accidents in the DC area over the years. On average, a car hits a pedestrian three times every...
Read MoreDC to Host Forum on Bus and Truck Safety
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public forum May 10-11 on truck and bus safety in Washington, D.C. The forum’s purpose is to examine the progress made since the NTSB held a similar forum on the topic ten years ago. The focus will be on government oversight, carrier operations, driver training...
Read MoreFederal Government Releases Data on Medical Malpractice
Earlier this month, the federal government released data on how often patients suffer injuries from eight specific medical errors. A spokesperson from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said officials were not ready to discuss the data, however. The data comes on the heels on a report from the Office of Inspector...
Read MoreNine Firefighters Injured in Maryland Blaze
A 10,000 square foot burning mansion injured nine firefighters last month in Huntingtown. Someone reported chimney fire at the residence shortly before midnight. When firefighters arrived, they discovered smoke from the second floor and that the fire had spread to the attic. Visibility quickly went down to zero and the blaze trapped nine firefighters...
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