From the Bel Air Police Department:
On Wednesday December 18, 2013 at approximately 5:20 pm, officers from the Bel Air Police Department and medics from the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company responded to Linwood Avenue and Giles Street in Bel Air for a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.
The pedestrian was identified as John Kostinko (69 years of age) of Bel Air; Mr. Kostinko was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma by helicopter. He was listed as being in critical condition as of 8:20 pm.
The operator of the vehicle was identified as Elizabeth Kregel (46 years of age) of Bel Air, Maryland.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Kostinko was walking his dog along Linwood Avenue when a 1998 Chevrolet driven by Ms. Kregel struck him. There are no sidewalks in this immediate area.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact D/Sgt Jim Lockard at 410-638-4500 or email jlockard@belairmd.org .
Ban dogs.
Ban women drivers. If a woman wasn’t driving this car, this accident wouldn’t have happened.
Never mind the nonsense, how about offering a prayer for Mr. Kostinko who is in critical condition!
I prayed for him before he got hit, it didn’t work.
We don’t know the cause yet, so it’s too early to really judge, but I have always noticed how unsafe this area is for pedestrians given the lack of sidewalks.
Maggie,
Thanks for not being just another blogger looking to pre-judge and make comments without any facts to back them up. I live in this neighborhood and there are a few facts known. This accident occured at the crest of a hill, it was dark, there is no sidewalk at all from the Bel Air United Methodist Church parking lot up to Hunter Drive on the right hand side. Just three factors that could have played a role in this unfortunate accident, with or without considering the speed. Unless you were there, or are a part of the investigation, you shouldn’t bother coming up with your own theory of what happened, how fast they were going, or if they were distracted. Don’t assume anything.
I can make several assumptions actually as can almost anybody that drives in Belair anymore. The incivility and complete disregard for posted speeds or the safety of others is rampant – not sure why; but it just is true. Also it’s pretty difficult to hit anybody if you’re actually doing 25 and looking ahead for anything that might be ahead; that’s what you’re supposed to be doing – that hill is not steep; hardly a hill at all and the road is perfectly straight. If you see someone particularly an older person with a dog and the road is narrow maybe, just maybe you slow down even more than 25 or better yet allow him/her a chance to stake a position with thier animal before you go by. It’s called courtesy and there was a time it was far more prevalent. It has nothing to do with whoever might have had the right of way – stand by the law; insist on your right of way but in the meantime you’ve nearly killed someone who maybe wasn’t exactly where they should have been. Good lord.
Sidewalks or not – if the lady was paying attention and traveling @ 25 mph as is posted through there she should have been able to stop even if the gentleman darted out in front of her. We ought to all recognize that speeding is just another form of aggressive driving. Residential reduced speed limits of between 25 – 35 are set low for a reason; to enable you to stop in case the unexpected occurs. Start the tickets for speeding in these areas at $500. bucks a piece and lose your license on a second offense. Aggressive driving is just as unsafe as drunk driving and deserves the same serious conseqences. Prayers to the poor man and I hope the dog is OK.
This is why we need common sense, speed limit signs are often hard to understand the number. Color coordinated traffic signals with directional turn arrows color coded, and yield warnings are too complicated to understand.
i am very sad to report that mr. john kostinko passed away from his injuries. i am his cousin so
i can report that this is true.
Well none of the prayers worked.
Hope the woman that killed him is brought to justice.
I am so sorry for your loss. Sending your family prayers.
Well, I’m an expert, I can’t fit all my acronyms of achievement in the name line. I also have to give 3 business cards to clients because of all my achievements.
A lot of fender benders are from women. John Cornul, 55 years experience.
I understand this is such a Tragic tragic ACCIDENT, and I have been praying for both sides of this accident. They are both victims. One has lost his life, the other has to cope with the emotions which NONE of us have obviously experienced before or people wouldn’t be making such harsh comments. It is amazing what people are saying, she deserves justice? No she deserves you a**holes to back up mind your business. You people act like the woman is probably frolicking around. No I’m sure she is devestated and mourning in her own way and dealing with crazy emotions none of us can truly understand unless we have been in a tragic ACCIDENT like this. I’m not on any party side it is an accident and very said but come on people. Have some decency.
As you can see, I included different acronyms of achievment compared to my other comment.
Such vulgar language in your rant.
John Cornul, Professional of many things.
Stop boasting about your achievements. This situation isn’t about you.
Excuse me? I will talk about potato chips if I want to.
I have tasted many brands of potato chips, kettle cooked are the best in my personal preference. What is yours?
Manslaughter is not a tragic accident. Until people are held responsible for their actions things will not change. I could care less how upset she might be, she’s better off than the person she ran over. Put her in prison for 10 years, maybe she won’t do it again.
You are acting like she did it on purpose, 10 yrs? SHE HAS TO LIVE WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. That’s enough punishment, emotions and guilt.
Only she had the ability to not run over him, but apparently that was not a priority, so yes it couldn’t have been any more on purpose had she tried. As for her emotions and guilt, let her reflect on them in a jail cell where she belongs, she took a life and needs to be made an example of. This is not allowed behavior in a civilized society, people must take personal responsibility for their actions. Rewarding bad behavior can not be tolerated.
Decency would have avoided the entire thing.
Were you there? No so when anyone of you were there feel free to leave a detailed report or what happened. Or better yet, let people who are handling this situation do their jobs. I’m not saying this accident could have been avoided I’m just saying have some respect and back off with the negativity.
How’s about you back off w/ ignoring the obvious. Calling this lady a victim is absurd. Hope she enjoys her Christmas – Mr. Kostinko won’t be. She may not have been frolicking around; but she clearly could not have been doing 25 and watching the road because had she been there’s no way she could have hit this man even if he was in the middle of the road.
For what its worth, in this state, motor vehicle collisions are usually always negligent actions.
Accident is when a tree branch falls on your parked cars windshield during a hurricane.
In an instance of a motor vehicle bumping into the back of another, the fault is of the driver who was following too close, not the driver who stopped.
Maybe you should look up the definition of “accident” ..no dictionary I have read that said its when a tree brand falls on your car..just saying.
Telling someone to read a dictionary when you should take a 3rd Grade Remedial English class is quite hilarious, don’t you think? Oh, you were on your phone? No problem! Pass the blame to something/someone else, like everyone else does! It’s cool!!!
The post you are replying to was comparing common language used when describing vehicular damage. Something beyond the human control that damages your automobile is usually an “accident,” where as, someone operating a motor vehicle and has a motor vehicle collision due to impaired driving of circumstance, is usually referred to as negligence.
Sadly, the residents of Homestead Village have begged for years for something to be done about the lack of attention to the speed limit on both Linwood and Idlewild. You will often see the speed monitor stationed throughout the neighborhood but very rarely see speed traps. Truly this could have been anyone of us and it is so extremely sad. I can tell you everyone in this neighborhood is grieving. Luminaries on Christmas Eve are a tradition in Homestead. I will be lighting mine this Christmas Eve with a heavy heart.
The grief is immeasurable. God bless Mr. K.
Just a question. .are all of your Saints on here??? Perfect drivers as well?? No one can sit here and say they have NEVER had a scare while driving due to weather bikers people on the side of the road you could take your eyes off the road simply to turn headlights on and your life is changed in an instance. …but I forgot that doesn’t happen to anyone who comments on here. Oh and I bet you all drive the exact speed limit too! Have a good day Saints, see you in Heaven.
You make the point here – everybody speeds, everybody ignores caution or care. That is no excuse. Today, two days after the death of this man doing the posted speed on Tollgate resulted in a caravan of a dozen behind me all a foot off the bumper of the next. 30 mph ticked everyone off – had them flash lights in the past when traveling max posted speed.
I hope this women is brought to justice, and subsequently gets railed in prison.