17 March 2011

Fatal in Franklin

| johnboy
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car smash

A 32-year-old man has died as a result of a motor vehicle collision early this morning (Thursday, 17 March).

About 2.00am, ACT Policing were called to Henry Kendall Street, Franklin, in response to a report of a maroon Holden sedan crashed into a power pole. The male driver was transported to The Canberra Hospital with serious injuries and subsequently died.

ACT Policing’s Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Team (CIRT) are currently investigating the cause of the collision.

This is the fourth fatality on Canberra roads for 2011.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision or seen the vehicle around that time is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

franklin crash franklin smash

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Gungahlin Al11:40 am 20 Mar 11

ThisIsAName said :

georgesgenitals said :

He must have been absolutely flying to do that much damage. Check out how twisted the body is by comparing the positions of the wheels.

There’s several instances of speeding drivers/motorbike riders in Franklin. By speeding, I’m talking about the sort of speeds that result in the accident shown here. eg. The other day some moron bogan sped through a roundabout without even looking to the right. If I’d been 2 seconds faster, I’d have been T-boned.

There are also some insane motorcyle riders who cut through the suburb every few weeks. The engines can be heard streets away, given there are some serious revs going on. I saw a group of 3 a few weeks ago and they were certainly not doing 50ks on the residential streets. If any of those riders come off, it’ll be really messy.

It was much the same in Harrison while it was still under construction. It was a favourite venue during Summernats!

However I have concerns about Franklin quieting down over time. The problem is that Hoskins Street runs from the industrial area and into the suburb. Compounded by Nullarbor and Oodgeroo cutting east west through the suburb.

When the design of Franklin was first proposed I suggested that Hoskins not link through due to the potential for encouraging rat running between Mitchell and the town centre. The ACTPLA planners thought they knew better – all edumacated and all as they are. So now we are stuck with the problem…

Mr Gillespie said :

Gerry-Built said :

Mr Gillespie said :

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

perhaps the reason the media beats the hell out of it is to wake people up, and learn from someone else’s stupid mistake….

Maybe, if it was a one-off, but the problem is repetition. Repeating the same thing over and over and over again over a long-term basis kinda numbs the audience into ignoring this (however well-intentioned) message, and thereby switching off. Know what I mean?

So… the reason you drive like an idiot and ignore road rules is because the media has desensitised you to road carnage? And not because you’re a thoughtless road user?

Mr Gillespie5:53 pm 19 Mar 11

Gerry-Built said :

Mr Gillespie said :

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

perhaps the reason the media beats the hell out of it is to wake people up, and learn from someone else’s stupid mistake….

Maybe, if it was a one-off, but the problem is repetition. Repeating the same thing over and over and over again over a long-term basis kinda numbs the audience into ignoring this (however well-intentioned) message, and thereby switching off. Know what I mean?

schmeah said :

Ah, a Stateman – the choice of vehicle for the new bogues. I haven’t seen a Statesman driven responsibly since 1998

I think you musat be right, I was road raged by a drongo in a Statesman last night while riding home.

niftydog said :

Another young family devastated by a moment of reckless behaviour.

I, for one, don’t believe it was as single moment. I suggest this person would have been acting recklessly on the road whenever he had the chance.

Do responsible and careful drivers ever just have a single brain-fart and say to themselves “aw, what the hell i’ll do it just this once….”. This just happens to be the occasion he became seriously unstuck.

Mr Gillespie said :

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

perhaps the reason the media beats the hell out of it is to wake people up, and learn from someone else’s stupid mistake…

Harryhighbrow9:05 pm 18 Mar 11

schmeah said :

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

Ah, a Stateman – the choice of vehicle for the new bogues. I haven’t seen a Statesman driven responsibly since 1998, my guess this guy was going at speed for no reason other than ego.

Wow, you must be really proud!!! To be able to use a tragedy to execute stereotypin

georgesgenitals6:42 pm 18 Mar 11

Mr Gillespie said :

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

The accident happened because the driver lost control of the car, likely by trying to attempt something that was beyond their skill.

Mr Gillespie said :

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

1. It happened because some clowns have no respect for the road rules and drive like absolute muppets.

2. So, to add to your problem with the ACT having silly things like speed limits and other assorted road rules, you are now offended that the media reports it when people have fatal car accidents.

It’s like watching some strange Pavlovian dog that is triggered to react angrily whenever they feel that their right to be an a-hole is threatened.

troll-sniffer said :

As a taxpayer and ratepayer I want to know who will be held responsible for the damage to the pole. Just because the driver isn’t around to answer for his actions doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t be held responsible for making good the community’s infrastructure.

I know they used to make you pay for it. I assume that is still the case. Just because you die, doesn’t let your insurance company off the hook. Although it would be pretty hard on they guys family if he wasn’t insured.

troll-sniffer said :

As a taxpayer and ratepayer I want to know who will be held responsible for the damage to the pole. Just because the driver isn’t around to answer for his actions doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t be held responsible for making good the community’s infrastructure.

Quite agreed.

As noted above he has at least two children – these could usefully be sold to help recover the replacement cost of the pole and the mother perhaps leased out on a contract labour basis for a period of time to pay for a nice piece of public art to go round the base.*

* Note, these may not be serious suggestions. IANAL or accountant.

Mr Gillespie12:19 pm 18 Mar 11

phil m said :

Hoooopefully next of kin have all been informed.
That’s a pretty recognisable vehicle for the photos to be on the net already.

There’s no point worrying about that.

What really matters is why the accident happened and why each time there is a fatal road accident the media beats the hell out of it anyway……

troll-sniffer said :

As a taxpayer and ratepayer I want to know who will be held responsible for the damage to the pole. Just because the driver isn’t around to answer for his actions doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t be held responsible for making good the community’s infrastructure.

Insurance?

troll-sniffer11:42 am 18 Mar 11

As a taxpayer and ratepayer I want to know who will be held responsible for the damage to the pole. Just because the driver isn’t around to answer for his actions doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t be held responsible for making good the community’s infrastructure.

tom_battams said :

I’m sure those light poles are supposed to be collapsible, so that in the event of an impact they topple backwards over the top of the car. From the pictures, this one looks solid as a tree…

Even though it hit right on the the pillar, its not the strongest part of the car. All motor vehicles wear their accident protection in the front as that is where the majority of collisions happen.

In that year model of vehicle there was a door intrusion rule as well but it is only the door that is tested while it is closed with the pillar only coming into play in the hinge/latch areas. Basically there is no rule for the pillar strength of the vehicle in an accident for that year model, I am not surprised that the vehicle absorbed more energy than the pole.

The other thing is your head is only a few inches from the pillar & there is no padding. if it was frontal accident, you are a foot or more from the steering wheel & then there is the airbag that will protect you after the seatbelt stops you from moving forward.

It doesnt take much of a crack to the head for it to be lights out.

tom_battams said :

I’m sure those light poles are supposed to be collapsible, so that in the event of an impact they topple backwards over the top of the car. From the pictures, this one looks solid as a tree…

Most modern light poles are designed to shear off at the ground level fitting they are bolted to. There are however lots of reasons that might not happen. If the ground level fitting is up a little high and the car hits that too, or if the car hits sideways it might not actually hit hard enough to shear it off… The poles are still pretty strong, since they have to support their own weight, in wind etc, and that looks like a big one.

I’m sure those light poles are supposed to be collapsible, so that in the event of an impact they topple backwards over the top of the car. From the pictures, this one looks solid as a tree…

Note the drivers seat sitting on the passenger seat with the light pole in it’s place. Horrific!
Another young family devastated by a moment of reckless behaviour.

The accident happened here:
http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-35.190838,149.150153&z=22&t=k&nmd=20101124

The light pole has since been removed, and there are lots of small glass chunks sprayed over Pape St. There are green spray marks on the kerb where the tyres hit, and a few small marks on the grass (probably from other vehicles though).

The guy was heading south (going downhill), and looks to have hit the kerb at an angle, ending up spinning 180. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it could be the result of totally botched handbrake turn…

georgesgenitals4:07 pm 17 Mar 11

pptvb said :

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

So, a a tarted-up, expensive Commodore!

We Holden konnissers prefer the term ‘long wheelbase’…

georgesgenitals said :

He must have been absolutely flying to do that much damage. Check out how twisted the body is by comparing the positions of the wheels.

There’s several instances of speeding drivers/motorbike riders in Franklin. By speeding, I’m talking about the sort of speeds that result in the accident shown here. eg. The other day some moron bogan sped through a roundabout without even looking to the right. If I’d been 2 seconds faster, I’d have been T-boned.

There are also some insane motorcyle riders who cut through the suburb every few weeks. The engines can be heard streets away, given there are some serious revs going on. I saw a group of 3 a few weeks ago and they were certainly not doing 50ks on the residential streets. If any of those riders come off, it’ll be really messy.

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

I thought a statesman was just a slightly longer crumpledoor?

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

So, a a tarted-up, expensive Commodore!

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

I still larfed 😀

KB1971 said :

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

Ah, a Stateman – the choice of vehicle for the new bogues. I haven’t seen a Statesman driven responsibly since 1998, my guess this guy was going at speed for no reason other than ego.

screaming banshee said :

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Fail, its a Satesman.

Hoooopefully next of kin have all been informed.
That’s a pretty recognisable vehicle for the photos to be on the net already.

some other force at play?

Hmm… 2 am, 2 young children, I’m thinking perhaps driver fatigue.

georgesgenitals1:51 pm 17 Mar 11

He must have been absolutely flying to do that much damage. Check out how twisted the body is by comparing the positions of the wheels.

screaming banshee1:50 pm 17 Mar 11

Look, a maroon coloured white commodore!

Holden Caulfield1:38 pm 17 Mar 11

JessP said :

And baby seat in the back that was – thankfully – empty.

Idiot.

So we have a poor child without a Dad. Idiot.

Two kids, by the looks.

It’s hard to tell from the pics posted here, but it appears as though the car must have careered across the grass from some distance. The absence of marking on the road surface tend to support this theory, along with some (just) visible marks in the grass on the first pic.

Would like to know more about this one. Of course, speed is a contributing factor in the impact, but was it a contributing factor in the driver losing control of the vehicle, or was there some other force at play?

And baby seat in the back that was – thankfully – empty. Idiot.

So we have a poor child without a Dad. Idiot.

Not surprised it killed him, power pole at speed on the noggin will do that.

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