Defiance woman killed when 22 year old crosses centerline

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Aaron Farmer

A Defiance woman was killed in a two vehicle accident on route double-D in St. Charles County, last Monday.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports 55 year old Diane Fulkerson was killed in the accident. Traffic crash reports indicate a pickup truck being driven by 22 year old Steven Hicks of O’Fallon was traveling east on route double-D when the truck veered across the centerline and collided with Fulkerson’s westbound car. Hicks sustained minor injuries along with a passenger in Fulkerson’s vehicle, 33 year old Peter Adams of Wentzville.

Drivers who lose control of their vehicles are legally responsible for the results of their reckless driving. When a loved one passes away as the result of someone else’s negligence, there is usually a claim for wrongful death. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence you should contact a qualified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
 

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Joyride ends with two teenagers dead

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Aaron Farmer

Teenage fun had deadly consequences in North St. Louis County during the early morning hours of January 2, 2009. That night 14 year old Brandon Jenkins took the keys to his mother’s 2007 Ford Focus to go joyriding with his friends. Brandon and his friends had gathered at his Hazelwood home and became bored as the evening wore on. Cruising around town provided the thrill these teenagers were seeking. 

After an hour of joyriding, Brandon and his five buddies noticed a police officer drive by. Not wanting to be caught Brandon sped away to avoid detection.   Speeding on city streets proved too reckless a task for this inexperienced driver who overshot a turn, hit a sewer drain along the curb, and sent the car airborne to overturn several times before striking a tree. 

When the dust settled Brandon proved to be fatally injured at the scene. Anthony Dunlap, 15, was taken by helicopter to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead in an operating room later that morning. The four other occupants of the car, ages 14 to 16, were all injured. Family and friends commented that these were all good boys who made a mistake. A parent of one of the boys commented that this was an isolated incident that was not typical behavior. 

These deaths and injuries are another example of how dangerous driving can be. We are all at the mercy of every other driver on the road. Sometimes the other drivers do not know how to drive, sometimes they are drunk, and sometimes they are plain reckless with our lives. There are no indications that alcohol or drugs were involved at this time, but police reports indicate none of the young men were wearing seatbelts. The mother of the deceased passenger hopes this incident will teach a lesson to others about getting in a car for joyriding. Hopefully, these deaths will remind us all to drive defensively as we don’t know what kind of crazy we will find behind the wheel of our fellow drivers the next time we take the streets.

 

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