From the Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack:
(Fallston, Md.) On Sunday, April 1, 2012 at approximately 6:37 p.m. troopers from the Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack responded to the intersection of U.S. Route 1 (Bel Air Road) and Maryland Route 152 (Mountain Road), Fallston, Maryland, for a serious motor vehicle collision.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, operated by Callie Jo Davidson, 28, of Abingdon, Maryland, was traveling southbound on Route 152 when it appeared that the operator failed to stop for a steady red signal at the intersection of U.S. Route 1.
The Equinox entered the intersection and collided with the left front driver/passenger compartment, of a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, being operated by Katelyn Rae Mitchell, 17, of Kingsville, Maryland. The Trailblazer was previously traveling northbound on Route 1 and
possessed a steady green traffic signal.
According to witnesses, the impact of the collision spun the Trailblazer, causing it to collide with a 1999 Ford Truck, operated by Anthony Steinacker, 25 yoa, from Halethorpe, Maryland. At some point during the crash the operator Mitchell was fully ejected from the
Trailblazer.
The operator Mitchell was flown to R Adams Cowley, Shock Trauma Center by Maryland State Police Medevac and is currently listed as critical but stable condition. The operator Davidson was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition.
The 1999 Ford truck suffered minor damage and the operator Steinacker was uninjured.
The roadway was closed for several hours while Bel Air Barrack reconstruction personnel investigated the crash.
An investigation is ongoing.
Miss mom says
So the cause of this accident was the equinox going right through a red light!!!! What the heck? She could have killed that girl. Pay attention people, god knows what she was doing??!!!! Really scary
jtownejeff says
also sounds like the young lady in the trailblazer was not wearing a safety belt. We are fortunate no one was killed. i’ve always considered that intersection to be a fairly safe and well controlled intersection. scary indeed.
db says
Yes, she was wearing her seatbelt.
Heather Tom says
The young lady in the Trailblazer was wearing her seat belt. It is believed that the seat belt was broken in the collision.
The young lady is a family friend. Those who post messages should show more sensitivity to the victim and her family and friends and avoid making guesses without all the information.
jtownejeff says
Db and Heather Tom – I meant no disrespect or insensitivity. To break a seat belt requires considerable force and perhaps I underestimated the force of the collision. My prayers are with everyone involved and I sincerely hope for a full recovery!
Eric Bel Air says
I agree with jtownejeff- no disrespect or downplaying of those injured intended, but Federal vehicle safety standards mandates seat belts break at the MINIMUM of 26689 Newtons (in other words, 6000 lbs). The entire vehicle could be suspended from a single belt without breaking, so I’m not buying the seat belt broke. That’s not to say something else didn’t happen though.
Source, §571.209 S4.2
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=571.209
Regardless, glad nobody was killed and hope for a speedy recovery for everyone.
jj says
Although the belt may be able to withstand a tension of that magnitude, it can still be cut by glass and sheared metal in a collision. Think before speaking. If you don’t know ask a question of someone withknowledge or experience.
Heather Tom says
Let’s conclude the discussion about the seat belt and focus on what’s important here. As several of those who have commented have said, let’s first be thankful that the two young women involved are alive and their families and friends still have them. Let’s also remember that, due to driver error that could have been avoided, two young women are in the hospital. Without going into details to respect her and her family’s privacy, the young woman who was in the Trailblazer has a long road ahead of her toward recovery and will most likely be affected by this incident for the rest of her life. Let’s all remember to DRIVE SAFELY.
Eric Bel Air says
Think before speaking? Did I not say “That’s not to say something else didn’t happen though.” Since you’re the expert on vehicles, you should know vehicle safety glass is tempered. You don’t get huge shards of spear-like glass when it breaks, you get small chunks only capable of doing surface cuts certainly not enough to cut the seatbelt. Sounds like someone else needs to do research before speaking…
jj says
Since some of your coment did not seem quite right, I looked up the standard you referenced. The strength value you listed was incorrect. It was for the webbing only of a single lap belt. Comination belts found in cars for many years have a web strength 16% or more less than a lap belt alone. In all cases the assembly, which includes the buckles and other hardware, have strength requirements of less than half the webbing strength.
jj says
First, you said “…so I’m not buying the seat belt broke.” I was simply mentioning possibilities that you seemed to overlook.
Second, I never mentioned “…huge shards of spear-like glass when it breaks”. But all those “small chunks” make small cuts which easily reduce the strength of material which you based your theory on. If you have ever seen the results of flying “safety glass” on skin, you will realize that, although not deep,there are many, many cuts.
Just pointing out possibilities other than your “blame the victim” theory despite your “no disrespect or downplaying of those injured intended”. Your statements when made in a forum such as this are surely doing what you claim to not be doing.
GH says
Were any of you riding with these girls? The equinox girl claims the light was green when she went through it. The 17yr old in the trailblazer says she was wearing her seatbelt. There is only 1 that knows the truth and God is not here to testify. It was a bad accident – that’s why they call them accidents. Both girls were injured and both girls were terrified. They may not see the truth for their fears!