Wrong Way Driver Kills 8 People

United States
July 28, 2009 8:34am CST
This happened near me, on the Taconic State Parkway in Southeastern NY State. A lady driving a minivan with five kids inside got onto the parkway using the EXIT ramp, she drove for almost two miles on the WRONG SIDE of the highway at around 70 mph (speed limit is 55mph) AGAINST traffic before plowing into another vehicle killing everyone in THAT car, and then careened off the road in a fiery crash that killed the woman, her daughter and three of her nieces. Only her little boy survived, barely, he is int he hospital in critical condition with bleeding on the brain and a broken arm. In all, eight people were killed, and three injured. Witnesses say it appeared as if the woman was deliberately driving the wrong way, because she was going VERY fast and staying in the lane despite many people flashing their lights and honking their horns to get her attention and then swerving to avoid being hit by her. Her brother said she'd called him to say she felt ill about 2 hours before the crash, and that he'd advised her to pull over and wait for him to come and pick her up. She ignored his advice and three of those kids killed were the brother's daughters. There are a lot of articles about this tragic and baffling story, and it has been all over the television news as well, I am providing a link from my local paper, but you can pretty much find the story anywhere now. The exit ramps from the parkway are clearly marked with "WRONG WAY GO BACK" signs to keep people form getting on the wrong side of the parkway, they are hard to miss. The kids were thrown from the car, as was the mother, leading to some speculation that they were not properly restrained with seatbelts and carseats at the time. The accident scene was horrific and gory, and the first responders will all be in some therapy to help them cope with what thy witnessed. Please, everyone, be careful driving and if you don't feel well, don't drive. No destination is important if you die on your way there or kill a bunch of innocent people. http://poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090728/NEWS01/907280321/Police--Driver-felt-ill-before-crash&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
5 people like this
6 responses
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
28 Jul 09
That is so sad to hear. I wonder what made her do that. Those poor innocent kids didn't deserve that and makes me want to cry.
3 people like this
• United States
28 Jul 09
I know, it's awful. Not only did those innocent kids die, and one is fighting for his life, but three innocent men on their way to a family event were also killed when she slammed into them, and two other people were hurt.
2 people like this
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I wanted to add about what I witnessed once. I was going somewhere early one morning. It was around five. It was still dark. I kept seeing headlights coming towards me on the wrong side of the highway. I just thought I was wrong. Then as it came closer I jerked to the side of the road and honked my horn. Whoever just kept going. They weren't swerving or nothing. Just on the wrong side of the road.
3 people like this
• India
29 Jul 09
Its not right at all to drive on the wrong way first of all.Secondly the woman if ill should have not atleast got those children with her which were killed for no reason.Bad starts have bad ends.
• United States
29 Jul 09
Probably because of another case that happened a few years ago on the Meadowbrook Parkway on Long Island, my first thought was what was she drinking or smoking or snorting. This case was one of those few cases that a drunk driver actually got charged & convicted of actual murder charges instead of merely manslaughter. From what the article said, this may not have been the case, but we'll probbaly have to wait for autopsy results.
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
29 Jul 09
Yes, that's a very sad story. She really should have pulled off the side of the road and called her brother to pick them up. Better to inconvenience someone than take a risk getting delirious behind the wheel, especially with children in the vehicle. That's one of the most horrific car accidents I've heard of in a long time.
1 person likes this
@Riptide (2758)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I heard about this on the news, before I went to work. It is absolutely horrible and I am just baffled and wondering, why this happened. Thinking about those children breaks my heart! Hubby and I don't like driving on the taconic, because people drive like maniacs on there anyways and there is nowhere to go when someone does come the wrong direction. We barely ever take that road.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jul 09
That's awful. I wonder if she wasn't just completely disoriented from whatever was making her feel ill.
1 person likes this