Location: Pulaski Highway (U.S. Route 40), east of LaGrange Avenue, Newark, DE
Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at 2:03 a.m.
Vehicles and Drivers:
Driver 1: Jerome Bright, 57, of Salisbury, MD (properly restrained, not injured)
Vehicle 1: International tractor trailer
Pedestrian: Jonathan Wolfe, 19, of Newark, DE
Resume:
Newark- A Newark man was critically injured in a crash on Pulaski Highway (U.S. Route 40) this morning.
The crash happened at 2:03 a.m. as Jerome Bright, 57, of Salisbury, MD, drove an International tractor trailer in the right lane of westbound Pulaski Highway. As the truck approached LaGrange Avenue it struck Jonathan Wolfe, 19, who was walking in the roadway.
Wolfe was transported by ambulance to Christiana Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. Bright was not injured.
The Collision Reconstruction unit is continuing its investigation, and no charges have been filed. The westbound lanes of Pulaski Highway were closed for one-and-a-half hours as Troopers investigated and cleared the crash.
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Can people legally ride in the bed of a pickup truck?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Yes. This applies to a Class E truck (pickup) with a gross vehicle weight under 7,000 pounds that is traveling not more than 25mph or is transporting an employee to or from a work site by the employer or is engaged in a farming operation. Children under 16 years of age may not ride in an unenclosed bed.
Do I have to stop for an unmarked car displaying red or red & blue lights?
Answer: Police vehicles must activate a siren to be an emergency vehicle and may or may not display red or blue lights. Most unmarked Maryland State Police vehicles display at least one blue flashing light. If you feel uncomfortable pulling over, acknowledge to the vehicle that you are aware that they are trying to pull you over by waving and slow down. Drive to a well lit area where people are. If you have a cell phone dial #77 and this will connect you with the nearest Maryland State Police Barrack. Advise the dispatcher that you are uncomfortable with the situation and the dispatcher will assist you.
What should I do if I see a person driving recklessly or aggressively?
Answer: Make note of the highway that you are traveling, the direction of travel, color, make and license number of the vehicle. If you have a cell phone dial #77 and this will connect you with the nearest state police barrack. Give the dispatcher your name, phone number and the above information. Follow the directions of the dispatcher and a lookout will be given for the vehicle. Do NOT attempt to keep up with a reckless driver - it will only put your safety in jeopardy.
What is the maximum lift height for a vehicle? And how do you measure it?
Answer:
The maximum height for Class A (passenger vehicle) is 20 inches, Class M (multipurpose) is 28 inches, Class E (pickup trucks) registered 10,000 pounds or less is 28 inches, Class E (pickup trucks) registered over 10,000 but not more than 18,000 pounds is 32 inches. This is measured from ground level to the frame side rails. Contact our Automotive Safety Enforcement Section at msp.ased@maryland.gov for additional information.
Are blue headlights legal?
Answer:
No, blue headlights are not legal. Headlights must be white in color. Any required lamp, lens, or reflector that is obscured by any object or shielded by a nontransparent material, or any headlamp equipped with aftermarket clear, tinted or screen type color is prohibited. For more information see Maryland law.
Can a Trooper stop me if he is driving an unmarked car?
Answer: Yes. Police vehicles must activate a siren to be an emergency vehicle and may or may not display red or blue lights. Most unmarked Maryland State Police vehicles display at least one blue flashing light. If you feel uncomfortable pulling over, acknowledge to the vehicle that you are aware that they are trying to pull you over by waving and slow down. Drive to a well lit area where people are. If you have a cell phone dial #77 and this will connect you with the nearest Maryland State Police Barrack. Advise the dispatcher that you are uncomfortable with the situation and the dispatcher will assist you.
Can a Trooper pull me over for no reason?
Answer: No. Any law enforcement officer needs a reason (probable cause) to stop a vehicle.
Can a Trooper disobey the speed limit?
Answer: Yes and no. If he is performing his duties, he may disregard traffic laws as long as he proceeds with due caution. Troopers cannot disregard traffic laws unless they have a reason.
§ 21-303. General rules governing overtaking and passing vehicles.
ReplyDelete(a) In general.- Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, this section governs the overtaking and passing of vehicles going in the same direction.
(b) Overtaking vehicle to pass to the left.- The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle that is going in the same direction shall pass to the left of the overtaken vehicle at a safe distance.
(c) Overtaking vehicles going in the same direction.- The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle that is going in the same direction, until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle, may not drive any part of his vehicle directly in front of the overtaken vehicle.
(d) Overtaken vehicle to give way to right.- Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle, on audible signal, shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle.
(e) Duty of driver of overtaken vehicle.- Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle, until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle, may not increase the speed of his vehicle.
F. Lane Driving
Your vehicle should be driven in a single lane. Do
not switch lanes until you determine it is safe to do
so. You should avoid drifting across lane lines and
making lane changes within an intersection.
Generally, you should keep your vehicle to the right
of the center of the roadway, unless you are passing
another vehicle going in the same direction, there
is a traffic signal designating it is okay to do so, or
there is an obstruction that makes it necessary to
safely adjust your position.
When being passed by another vehicle, you must
yield to the other vehicle and not increase your
speed.
Low Beam
Use low beams when:
• operating your vehicle in normal driving
situations, such as driving at night on a
highway or roadway with streetlights;
• driving in fog, rain, snow, etc;
• entering a tunnel or construction area.
While not required by law in all areas, this
increases visibility to other motorists and
construction workers
Interstate and other limited access
highways are usually reached by an
entrance ramp and an acceleration lane.
The entrance ramp provides access to
the highway and the acceleration lane
provides the opportunity to get up to
the speed of the traffic already on the
interstate or highway. When entering
an interstate, the solid painted lines that
divide the entrance and the interstate
should not be crossed.
2. Exiting the Interstate
Move to the appropriate lane well
before reaching the exit. Start slowing
down as soon as you enter the
deceleration lane and continue slowing
to the posted advisory speed for the
ramp. If you exit at the wrong place
on an interstate, continue until you
are off the exit ramp and look for a
way to re-enter the interstate. Never
stop and back up on any portion of the
interstate.
If there are no injuries and your vehicle can
move:
• stop the vehicle as
close as possible
to the scene of
the crash, without
obstructing traffic more than necessary. If no
one has been injured, move it off the roadway
to ensure your safety and that of other
motorists, and to prevent traffic backups;
• exchange important information (name,
address, phone number, license plate number
and state, driver’s license number, vehicle
make and model, and insurance information;• ask witnesses to leave their names, addresses
and phone numbers;
• note collision location, date and time, number
of vehicles involved, weather conditions and
road conditions;
• note any damages to the vehicles;
• record the facts of how the crash happened;
• remember, you must always call the police
when:
• someone has been injured;
• a vehicle cannot be moved;
• a driver appears to be under the influence;
• a driver does not have a license;
• a driver tries to leave the scene without
providing the proper information;
• public property has been damaged.