Archive for Friday, July 11, 2008
Van damaged by flying stone leaves non-profit frustrated
Melanie Birge is rattled. The Independence Inc. transportation provider was driving a disabled client to the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Hospital Thursday morning when she said the company van they were in was pummeled by a landscaping stone that weighed between 50 and 100 pounds.
July 11, 2008
Advertisement
Melanie Birge is rattled.
The Independence Inc. transportation provider was driving a disabled client to the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Hospital on Thursday morning, when she said the company van they were in was pummeled by a landscaping stone that weighed between 50 and 100 pounds.
"It was very scary," Birge said Friday. "It just came right at me out of nowhere."
Five or six of the heavy stones fell off a flatbed truck traveling west down a hill on the Old Farmer's Turnpike, North 1800 Road, near East 900th Road, Birge said. She said one of the stones hit her westbound 2005 Dodge Caravan and punctured a tire on a car traveling behind her. No one was injured.
Birge said the incident caused the Independence Inc. van, which received damage to the driver's side hood area, to die.
"I'm very thankful that it hit where it did," Birge said. "If it was just a little higher : it could've severed me."
She said the truck, which didn't stop, was a mid-to-early 80s two-toned dark blue Ford.
Douglas County sheriff's deputies took a report on the incident and searched the area for the truck, but couldn't find it, said spokesman Lt. Doug Woods. Unless new information surfaces, Woods said the investigation in the case is "pretty much done."
The accident was the second in three weeks for Independence Inc., a nonprofit independent living center that provides services - including advocacy, information and referral, daily living skills training, computer training, transportation, employment services and assistive technology - for people with disabilities. Another company van was involved in a June 24 crash near 23rd and Iowa streets.
"We're pretty frustrated," said Tonya Dorf Brunner, executive director.
The company has backup vans, but she said they're older and more costly to drive and maintain.
The company receives funding from the county, state and federal governments, but it also accepts donations. Dorf Brunner said those wishing to help defray the cost of the insurance deductible or the extra cost of gas necessary to drive the older backup vans, may send donations to the agency, 2001 Haskell Ave., Lawrence 66046.
More like this
- Melanie Birge is rattled. The Independence Inc. transportation provider was driving a disabled clien 3 comments / July 11, 2008
- Independence Inc. loses operations leader June 23, 2008
- Nonprofits merge, expand services for disabled April 1, 2006
- INDEPENDENCE INC. A RESOURCE FOR DISABLED October 14, 1996
- Kansan a citizen diplomat between China and U.S. September 4, 2005
Top ads RSS
- Operator Wanted Experienced Operator wanted to assist in the running ...
- RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community is currently accepting applications ...
- Live On Site Manager- Self storage complex in Kansas City ...
- Customer Service/ Manager Trainees!! $450/wk. Must be able to start ...
- St. Francis Health Center - NAS Recruitment
- Robinson not just a ‘motor’ November 11, 2009 · 4 comments
- U.S. Marines of all ages celebrate 234th birthday of Corps November 10, 2009 · 3 comments
- Blog: Strippin' Ain't E-Z November 11, 2009 · 3 comments
- Mandatory service November 11, 2009 · 33 comments
- Attorney for man who says he shot George Tiller won't present 'necessity' defense November 10, 2009 · 32 comments
- On the street: Are you going to watch the turnpike bridge being blown up? November 11, 2009 · 4 comments
- Blog: A Few Notes About How Fog Is Created November 11, 2009 · 4 comments
- Jihadist threat underplayed November 11, 2009 · 13 comments
- City moves forward on laboratory building November 11, 2009 · 11 comments
- Pressing need November 11, 2009 · 10 comments
- First blast on section of Kansas Turnpike river bridge scheduled for early Sunday afternoon November 10, 2009
- Former Kansas governor William Avery dies at age 98 November 5, 2009
- Code Talkers break silence November 11, 2009
- KU's Learned Hall closed for several hours after early-morning mechanical problem November 11, 2009
- Topeka Zoo gorilla died of aneurysm November 11, 2009
- <strong>FINAL:</strong> KU gives highlight-reel performance in 103-45 exhibition win over Pitt. State November 10, 2009
- Horoscope for November 11, 2009 November 11, 2009
- Vatican looks to heavens for signs of alien life November 11, 2009
- Babcock Place fire leaves water damage November 11, 2009
- Pressing need November 11, 2009
11 July 2008
at 7:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
xbusguy (Anonymous) says…
Sorry to hear about this. My check (not much) is in the mail. Indy Inc, provides a much needed service. I wish you the best. Hang in there.
11 July 2008
at 11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Pywacket (Anonymous) says…
Have to wonder how closely she was following the trailer. Obviously, tailgating would not mean she deserved to have the van hit by the rocks—it just might partially explain what happened. Glad nobody was hurt.
11 July 2008
at 11:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
classclown (Anonymous) says…
Pywacket (Anonymous) says:Have to wonder how closely she was following the trailer. Obviously, tailgating would not mean she deserved to have the van hit by the rocks-it just might partially explain what happened.=============================As per the story and the article, the truck was in the other lane going the opposite direction. So as far as your tailgating theory goes, there is nothing to wonder about.
12 July 2008
at 3:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KS (Anonymous) says…
That's what one has insurance for. Use it and get on with life. I suspect this non-profit has the money to make the repairs. They are not paying any taxes. Why is this a front page story?
12 July 2008
at 7:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
xbusguy (Anonymous) says…
When you tranport people for hire, Insurance is mighty hard to get. Collision insurance is sky-high, and only used for major losses. Even then you risk non-renewal. Insurance Companys exist to make money, period. They don't want the exposure to lawsuits, and if you transport people, the exposure is high.
12 July 2008
at 8:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ohyasee (Anonymous) says…
Sadly LJWorld had it wrong, I was heading west down the road he was traveling east, the stone came right at me, sorry to disapoint but I was not tail gating.If anyone know who was hauling these stones Thursday morning please contact the Police.
12 July 2008
at 10:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
capricorn70 (Anonymous) says…
Sharon Stone told me it was KarmaBTW…This story rocks
12 July 2008
at 12:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jackpot (Anonymous) says…
classclown: truck going West, Van going West, Car going West. Back to pywacket was she tail gating or getting ready to try to pass?
12 July 2008
at 12:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jackpot (Anonymous) says…
sorry classclown my bad. I read the story first I just played the story. Now do trust your eyes or yours ears?
12 July 2008
at 6:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
yellowhouse (Anonymous) says…
An uninsured drunk driver hit my truck, and they would only pay a percentage of the damage. The rest will be given if they collect from the other driver. The insurance did not cover my damages.
12 July 2008
at 9:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TheOriginalCA (Anonymous) says…
Subcontractors (and Transmasters) are notorious for negligence. I speculate that this driver was either uninsured, unregistered, or both. I have lost count of how many times my windshields have been chipped by rocks coming from uncovered dump trucks.
12 July 2008
at 10:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
LadyJ (Anonymous) says…
Some of the LRM drivers aren't too great either.
12 July 2008
at 10:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KS (Anonymous) says…
xbusguy - Insurance is required by law. It's not that hard to get. You use it when you have a loss. They can afford to pay for this.
13 July 2008
at 12:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Pywacket (Anonymous) says…
classclown~ The story said they were both headed west. What was I to think? Until they print a correction, I'll assume that is correct, regardless of the anonymous poster claiming to be the victim. (Sorry, anon. poster—anyone could claim to be the person in the article. And if you are the driver, I wouldn't expect you to post on a public forum that you were partially to blame for getting hit.)In any event, the nonprofit should sue for damages, since the rocks should've been secured better. If the vehicles were headed in opposite directions, that would make more sense and (obviously) eliminate any tailgating theory.LJW—pls clarify.
13 July 2008
at 7:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
LadyJ (Anonymous) says…
Maybe that was him shooting off fireworks till 11 last night.