UPCOMING BIKER EVENTS

Contributing to the Community

Latest News about Wisconsin & Illinois Accidents

As a service to the local communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, we frequently post articles about accident news. Visit this page often to read the latest news story and contact our law firm if you or a family member has been injured.

Car Accidents

• Hit and Run Accident in Madison, Wi Causes Multiple Injuries

  A serious and injurious car accident on Interstate 90/39 near Madison, Wi is being blamed on an illegal U-turn.  According to police, the driver of a jeep hit a 1998 Dodge van while making an illegal turn.  The van was forced to swerve off the road, clipping a mile marker post and traveling another 200 feet, crashing into a fence and coming to a stop in a swampy area. 

  The driver of the jeep was reported to have stopped briefly and then fled the scene.  Police are still searching for the person responsible for the hit and run accident.

  The van contained an adult driver and six children.  The children range in age from four to fourteen.  All seven victims, from Lansing, Oak Park and Lynwood Ill, were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries.  Multiple ambulances were called to the scene and the accident victims were taken in hospitals in Stoughton, Edgerton and Madison. 

  The staff and attorneys at Hupy & Abraham hope that all injured parties are on their way to recovering from their injuries.

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• Study Finds That Adults Text and Drive as Much as Teens

  Teen drivers are often looked at as dangerous, distracted drivers.  Their avid use of cell phones and iPods must surely make them a danger on the roads.  Right?  Though it's true that these youngest technology junkies are guilty of texting and driving their adult counterparts are just as guilty.

  A new report released by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project  states that adults are just as likely as teens to drive and text.  The report, "Adults and Cell Phone Distractions," shows that adults talk and text while driving more than teenagers.

  According to the report 47 percent of adult texters have sent or received a text massage while driving.  On the other hand only 34 percent of teens who text have texted while driving.  The message is clear:  Both teens and adults are paying more attention to their phones than to the road. 

  However, many are surprised that adults are more likely to be both texting and talking while driving.  The report found that adults were "substantially more likely than teens to have talked on their cell phones while driving".

  Lee Rainie, the director of the Pew's Internet & American Life Project, spoke to the widespread nature of the problem.

  "It is just as hard for adults as it is for teenagers to resist chatting with friends and sending off that quick text even in the midst of heavy traffic," she said.

  The staff and attorneys at Wisconsin's Hupy & Abraham hope that the study helps more driver realize how important it is to put down the phone and concentrate on the road.  Doing so could very well save a life.      

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• Fatal Motorcycle, Car and Pedestrian Accidents Up in Wisconsin

  According to the Wisconsin State Department of Transportation May has been a deadly month for drivers, passengers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians.  The DOT says that this May 15 more people have died on the roads of Wisconsin than last May.  This year 63 people have died in 58 separate car crashes. 

  Over Memorial Day Weekend alone 11 people died in auto accidents.  This total includes four bikers who lost their lives over the long weekend.

  So far this year 192 people have died in auto accidents in Wisconsin.  This number includes 27 bikers, one passenger, one cyclist and 18 pedestrians.  The total loss of life for the same period last year is five higher.  However, the number is still 49 lower than the five year average. 

  The high amount of catastrophic accidents occurred despite the states Click it or Ticket safety belt campaign.  From May 24 to June 6th police were out in force to ensure that drivers were wearing their seat belts.  Nearly one year ago Wisconsin enacted a primary seat belt law.  Under the new law drivers can be pulled over and ticketed without making another traffic violation.    

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• Racine Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase, Crash

  A family argument led to one man's arrest and a potentially deadly accident.  Michael D. Powell, of Racine, Wisconsin, was reported to be speeding along the streets of Green Bay with a gun or a sword.   

  Police from both Pleasant Prairie and Racine County gave chase to Powell, pursuing him along Green Bay Road, Sheridan Road and 52^nd Street.  The chase also took police into Lake County, Ill. 

  The chase ended on Green Bay Road where Powell swerved to avoid stop sticks and collided head-on with another vehicle.  Fortunately neither driver was hurt during the accident. 

  Powell was not found to have a gun or sword in his car.  However, police did find two pocket knives and a hammer.  Powell is currently being charged with fleeing an officer and other traffic violations.  City of Kenosha and Mount Pleasant police departments are asking that further charges be filed.

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• Five Brillion High School Students Injured in Accident

  While driving to school five teens were injured when the car they were in struck the side of a train.  According to deputies in Calumet County the students were traveling along East River Road in the town of Rantoul, south of Brillion, when their car struck the side of a westbound train. 

  All five young victims, students at Brillion High School, were injured during the accident.  Injuries sustained during the crash included significant head injuries, facial injuries, bruised lungs and fractured bones.

  Both police and doctors believe that the teens survived, in part, because of their seatbelt use.  All five were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.  Calumet County Sheriffs say that alcohol was not involved. 

  Since the accident the condition of the accident victims has been steadily improving.  The attorneys at Hupy & Abraham hope that the injured teens continue to recover quickly and fully from their injuries.    

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• Mock Accident Stuns, Upsets Teens at East Dubuque High School

  Teens at East Dubuque High School in Illinois were given a performance that was meant to shock and sadden them.  The mock crash involved four seniors who were on their way to prom.  The performance showed the driver drinking and then getting into a head-on collision.  The mock crash ended in jail for the driver, serious injuries for two passengers and death for the other.

  The event concluded with a casket being placed by the gym, dedicated to the deceased teen.  Organizers and students at the high school are glad that the crash affected many who watched.  Students admit that many of the people they know already drink and drive.  They hope that the message sent on the day before prom hits home.

  Keith Hayes, a participant in the "crash" believes that the event was a success.

  "I teared up," said Hayes. "Chance is my best friend, and fake killing him is hard enough, I don't even want to think about the real thing.  It's a good thing (that students got emotional), we were trying to get to them and we did.  We did our job."

  At the end of the assembly students were given a treat with a serious message.  A candy bar was wrapped in a package with the following statistics:

  "Between 2004 and 2007, 575 Illinois teen crash fatalities have occurred, and every 22 minutes a person dies in an alcohol related accident."

   

  The staff and attorneys at Hupy & Abraham hope that the mock car accident helps students make the right choice before getting behind the wheel. 

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• Illinois Law Comes Under Fire After Serious Car Accident in Loves Park

  A 35-year-old man recently caused a serious accident in Loves Park.  The accident occurred when the driver, Chris Primuth, lost control of his car and crashed at the corner of Mulford and Perryville.  Primuth is being charged with DUI, aggravated DUI and driving too fast for conditions.  This accident, which seriously injured his passenger, is not the first for Primuth.  In 1996 he was charged with a DUI.  A few years later he was convicted of fatally injuring a teen during a hit and run accident in Machesney Park. 

  What frustrates police is that though they suspect he was under the influence at the time of the accident, they were unable to get local hospitals to draw his blood.  Loves Park police asked three different Rockford hospitals to draw blood for a blood alcohol level test and they all refused.  Though the police had a search warrant the doctors and nurses do not have to do the draw if the suspect refuses the test. 

  Hospital staff worry that drawing blood without the consent of the patient will lead to a lawsuit.  Patients are protected by law and allowed to refuse any and all medical treatments.  This includes court mandated blood draws. 

  With the hands of both police and doctors tied many DUI suspects are not convicted, even if they were driving while intoxicated.  Loves Park Police Chief Jim Puckett is calling for a change in the law.  He would like to protect the nurses and doctors asked to draw the blood. 

  "The hospitals are looking at liability on their part too, they don't want to be sued, they could turn around and be sued.  They are going to have to have it to where they know they cannot be sued by the defendant for drawing blood."

  The attorneys at Hupy & Abraham have seen too many accident victims seriously injured at the hands of a drunk driver.  We hope that the injured passenger recovers quickly and fully from his injuries.

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• Infant Not in Car Seat During Rockford Auto Accident

  A serious car accident nearly turned tragic for an infant riding in the car.  The child was not secured in a safety seat when the Pontiac Grand Prix she was riding in jumped the curb, struck a cement structure and flew into the air, landing on its roof.

  Police report that the single vehicle accident occurred in the 700 block of Seminary Street in Rockford.  Fortunately the child was received only minor injuries in the crash.  She was taken to Swedish American Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

  The driver of the car, unnamed at the time of this report, was arrested on multiple charges to include not having a valid driver's license and not having the child in a safety restraint seat.

  The attorneys at Hupy & Abraham know how devastating an auto accident can be.  When a child is involved the seriousness of the accident increases, as does the responsibility of the driver.  We hope that the infant riding in the car makes a full recovery from her injuries. 

  If you need information on the proper use of child restraint systems (car seats) please click here.  The link will also direct you to information on car seat installation checks across Illinois.

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• The Move Over Law: Preventing Roadside Auto Accidents in Wisconsin

  This month the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is highlighting their "Move Over Law".  This law was enacted to provide a safety zone for stopped emergency vehicles. 

  Law enforcement officers, emergency responders and road maintenance workers are at risk each time they stop their vehicles near the road.  Drivers who fail to switch lanes or slow down to create a safety zone for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle can be ticketed.  Fines for violating the Move Over Law will cost you $263 and will add three demerit points to your license.

  Aside from the expense and hassle of a ticket the bigger issue is the injuries and deaths that accidents with roadside workers and emergency crews cause.  According to Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins, "Last year 13 State Patrol vehicles were hit or sideswiped while they were legally parked, and three officers were injured.  There were many more near collisions."

  To help drivers remember the importance of the Move Over Law signs posted on highways near main entry points to Wisconsin.  The signs read, "STATE LAW.  MOVE OVER OR SLOW DOWN FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES."        

  The staff and attorneys at Hupy & Abraham hope that highlighting the law will prevent needless injuries and deaths on Wisconsin's highways. 

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• Many Injured In Accidents on Highway 41 near Appleton

  Police report that 38 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Highway 41 and the on ramp at Highway 55.  The car accidents are being blamed on fog and slippery road conditions.  It is also suspected that the lack of drivers adjusting their speed for the conditions contributed to the accidents.  Witnesses report excessive speeding and tailgating on the stretch of Highway that runs between Appleton and Green Bay. 

  The bulk of the vehicles, 31, were involved in an accident at the on-ramp of Highway 55.  Vehicles were diverted around the accident and around Kaukauna.  The second accident involved seven vehicles and occurred near County CC in the town of Vanderbroek.

  A representative from Appleton Medical Center reported that 15 people were taken to the hospital from the accident scene.  While 14 of the injured accident victims were treated and released one person remained hospitalized with serious injuries.    

  It took the Wisconsin State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies the entire day to investigate and clean up the scene.  Both north and south bound Highway 41 were closed from approximately 8am to 2:20pm. 

   

  The staff and attorneys at Hupy & Abraham hope that all the injured parties make a full and complete recovery.

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Chad A. Kreblin

online at

visit superlawyers.com

Michael F. Hupy

online at

visit superlawyers.com

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