Houston Astros Draft Pick Killed in Big Rig Accident

For Houston truck accident attorneys, any accident that ends in a fatality is tragic. But when the accident involves a high profile person is involved, the entire city is affected.

Early on Tuesday morning, Dustin Kellogg, a new Houston Astros draft pick was killed in a tragic collision with a big rig in Southwest Montgomery County, sending the Astros, and the city of Houston into shock and mourning.

The fatal accident happened at about 1:15 a.m. According to authorities Kellogg was driving his pickup truck northbound on the FM1314 at the intersection of Old Houston Road, when he apparently crossed several lanes of traffic and crashed head on into an 18-wheeler truck.

Kellogg was selected as a pitching prospect in the 34^th round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft in June of this year. He was only 18 years old and had graduated in May from Caney Creek High School before being selected for the draft.

Kellogg was understandably thrilled after he was selected by the Astros. He told the Houston Chronicle, "It’s like a dream come true. You never expect to go to your hometown team. When you’re in Little League, you always dream of playing for your hometown team. I’ve always wanted to play for the Astros." He was also confident about what he could bring to the Astros: "I can bring them a right-handed arm that can throw hard as hell," he told them with a confident smile.

In a formal statement, the Astros said, "We are deeply saddened by the news of Dustin’s passing. Although he had only been an Astros player for a short time, we share the pain of his family," "Our prayers go out to Dustin’s loved ones." The Houston Astros General Manager and Scouting Director Bobby Heck added to the sentiment, "This is a very sad day for all of us. Dustin was a Texas kid, and he made his intentions very clear at our pre-draft workout that he wanted to pitch for his hometown Houston Astros. He was a great kid with high energy and a lot of confidence, and performed well for us after signing. This is a huge loss for everyone that knew him."

The big rig that Kellogg crashed into was carrying diesel fuel, of which several hundred gallons along with some oil leaked onto the FM1314. The authorities were forced to close the road for several hours while HazMat crews cleaned up and cleared the scene. The FM1314 was reopened at about 6:30 a.m., but the Kellogg family, the Astros and the city of Houston will remain in mourning for a long time.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck or other motor vehicle accident, call Houston truck accident attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced Houston injury attorney with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form, and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

15 Injured by MetroRail Accident in Downtown Houston

Houston truck accident attorneys know that when large trucks are involved in accidents, the potential for damage is usually exponentially higher. During the prime rush hour commuting period, a dump truck wreaked havoc in downtown Houston Tuesday morning.

At about 9 a.m. a dump truck which was heading west on Capitol at Main ran a red light, and subsequently hit a MetroRail train. The train was knocked off its track and the dump truck was inches away from crashing into a downtown eatery, Ziggy’s Bar & Grill.

The driver of the dump truck told police that he was blinded by a reflection, and didn’t see the stoplight turn red. As a result of the collision 15 people, including the truck driver and the MetroRail driver were taken to the nearby Ben Taub Hospital. None of the injured parties had severe or life threatening injuries.

A MetroRail passenger said the incident has deterred him from taking the rail service in the future. He was leaning up against a glass window when the accident suddenly happened, and he was thrown across the train. "I guarantee this is the last time I take this rail. I’d rather walk. I think it’s safer, really," he said.

The accident disrupted traffic and rail services in the downtown area for hours. At lunchtime, crews were still at the scene trying to get the train back onto the tracks. A replacement bus service was set up to service MetroRail passengers while the rail lines are being fixed.

Houston truck accident attorneys were disappointed by the reaction of some of the MetroRail passengers, that they may decline to use the city train in the future. People often take public transportation because they feel it is safer than driving, and statistically it is. Just because one accident occurs does not mean that the citizens of Houston should lose faith in the city’s public transportation system.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident and needs assistance, call Houston truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is an experienced, nationally recognized Houston injury attorney with 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm staff will contact you within 24 hours to schedule a free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the help and advice that you need.

Woman Speaks Out Against Driving With Sleep Apnea After Fatal Crash

Houston car and truck accident attorneys know that DWI accidents are a nationwide concern. But many accidents each year are also caused by people falling asleep behind the wheel. Whether people who fall asleep while driving are just tired or have a sleeping disorder—this can be equally dangerous, although less frequent, than driving while under the influence of alcohol.

A New Braunfels woman is speaking out against people who drive when they have a sleeping disorder such, and trying to raise awareness as to how dangerous it can be.

John and Wanda Linsdsay were driving in a construction zone in May of 2010, when they were hit from behind by a fast moving 18-wheler truck. The Lindsays had come to a stop, as the construction sign dictated, but the semi-truck behind them didn’t slow or stop, and slammed into them when it was traveling at 65 miles per hour.

The impact of the crash sent both of the Lindsays to the hospital. Wanda ultimately survived, but John never recovered and died a few days after being admitted to the hospital.

“On Sunday morning, on Mother’s Day, the doctor that had been taking care of him came in and told me there was no further brain activity and that there was no chance he could ever be the man we knew before and he needed our permission to disconnect the machines,” Wanda said in a statement.

Wanda then began wondering how such an accident could have happened—for a professional driver to be speeding through a clearly marked construction zone struck Wanda as odd. “For a truck, a 30-ton truck, to enter a construction zone travelling at 65 mph with their cruise control on, was he either insane? Or was he asleep? I don’t think he was insane,” Wanda mused.

Wanda said she still hasn’t recovered emotionally from the loss the accident caused, but in the process has been wondering why and how this tragedy could’ve happened. Wanda and her lawyer, Jim Cole, did some more investigating and discovered that the driver who slammed into their car, causing the death of her husband and best friend, had recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

“There is an epidemic among truck drivers of sleep apnea,” said Cole. And Wanda is now working to raise awareness of sleep apnea, and how dangerous driving with this disease can be.

“It just did not have to happen, should not have happened and if we can do one thing in his (John Lindsay) memory to make his death less senseless, then that’s what we’ll do,” said Wanda.

Houston truck accident attorneys agree with Wanda Lindsay. Part of what makes drunk driving accidents so tragic and senseless is that they are entirely preventable—there is no need for them to ever happen. The same is true with falling asleep behind the wheel—if you are too tired to drive, you should not, and if you have a severe sleeping disorder beyond your control, it is putting people at risk each time you get behind the wheel to drive.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle, truck accident or thinks that you have grounds for a wrongful death case, call Houston injury attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a nationally recognized Houston injury lawyer with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.