Serious accidents occurring on road is a matter of great concern for all of us. Not a day passes when we do not read report of at least 2 or 3 serious road accidents. Almost everyone has been affected by such accidents at one time or the other., because a relative or friend is somehow connected to such accidents. The number of deaths per year per 10000 motor vehicle in India is 10 to 15 times more than that in advance countries. The number of motor vehicle is increasing day by day. Though it is a sign of improving economy of the country. It is a bitter truth that is also adds to accidents on roads. Our inability to provide enough funds to widen the roads or to construct new roads in proportion to rise in vehicle population also results in perpetuating this state of affairs.

In Maharashtra there were 100144 motor vehicle in 1961. Thirty six years later in 1997 the figure rose to 4515746 a 45 fold increase! During the same period the road length has risen by mere 5 times. In fact there are several roads where the vehicular traffic 4 to 5 times their capacity.

Statistics for the last few years show that there is a large increase in the number of accidents from year to year. In the state 77565 accidents were recorded 1996. These accidents are only those registered with the Police. Besides these there are several accidents which are not registered with the police. Because only one vehicle is involved or because the injuries or damages are not very serious. It can therefore be surmised that the actual number of accidents may be much more. In these accidents, large scale loss of life occurs every year. Several persons aere maimed for life. The productivity of several others reduces due to temporary incapacity. On an average 212 road accident occur in Maharashtra everyday and 24 person die therein while 145 are injured. Broadly 30 percent of persons dying in road accidents are below the age of 30 years. This means that the proportion of those dying in the prime of their life is quite large. It is clear that unless urgent remedial measures are taken, the occurrence of these accidents and resultant casualties will go on rising.

Why Do Accidents Occur?

Broadly road accidents occur due to the following 4 reasons.

1) Defects in vehicle e.g. breakage of tie rod of a running vehicle tyre bursting, wheel coming loose or failure of brakes. Due to such occurrence the driver loses control on the vehicle and an accident results.

2) Error of driver e.g. overtaking at a wrong place, turning abruptly or stopping without prior signalling, which can cause collision with the vehicle following; driving fast through villages exceeding the speed limit; falling asleep at the wheel, overturning due to going round a curve at excessive speed, driving while intoxicated etc.,

3) Environment around the road e.g. error of drivers of other vehicles like bullockcarts, cycles, rickshaw, jay walking, pedestrians, school children being run over, cattle or dogs etc. running onto roads.

4) Defects in roads: A study of accidents registered with the police shows that the number of accidents due to this reason is around 10% of total accidents. Even allowing for some errors in analysis of reasons for accidents, the figure will not exceed 20%.

Appointment of Accident Prevention Committee

On this background the Government of Maharashtra decided to appoint a Committee with a view to reducing at least the accidents occurring due to shortcoming in the roads by suggesting remedial measures. Thus the road in the state would be rendered safer to some extent and it is expected that there will be reduction in the number of road accidents and good many lives would be saved.

After inspecting a number of accident spots the Committee has found that certain types of sites are definite accident locations. If the general travelling public know them they can negotiate such location with caution and avoid accidents. A few such accident locations are described in this chapter.



Where the road rises to a summit and then slopes down and where the driver cannot see the road ahead for much distance, is a dangerous spot. More so, when the road curves immediately after the summit. In such cases, drivers do not know which way the road is turning after the summit and are therefore involved in accidents.

The summit at the end of a longish rising gradient which in turn follows either a good horizontal stretch or a downward gradient also becomes an accident spot. It is observed that vehicels usually travel along the road in bunch. This bunch consist of some heavy vehicles and some faster lighter vehicle. As soon as this bunch starts climbing up on rising gradient the heavy trucks slow down considerably and the impatient lighter and faster vehicles immediately swing out of overtaking them. This overtaking action usually takes place near the summit where sight distance is any way deficient. At the same time the vehicles coming from the opposite direction are just past the summit on downward gradient and are therefore, travelling fairly fast. The carriageway being only 2 lane wide a dangerous situation is created.

Another dangerous spot is a small level stretch between two long downward gradients. Vehicles travelling down the slope from both directions meet in the small level stretch where the road is only 2 lane wide and a dangerous situation arises,.

The tress and shrubs by the side of the road are also traffic hazards. On the inside of the curves they reduce sight distance. In straight stretches where vehicles are travelling fast, the tree branches projecting close to the carriage way at height less than 6 metres also cause the heavy trucks piled with big loads or big buses to move away from the branches and towards the center of the road. When vehicle travelling in both direction adopt the same tactic, a dangerous situation leading to possible head collision can arise. Many accidents also seem to occur due to vehicles crashing against large trees growing close to the carriageway. In such cases fatalities are high.

In some instance with an eye to economy the depth of cutting are reduced. This sometimes leads to long downward gradients ending in a fairly high bank or on a two-lane bridge. Vehicles travelling at great speed down such slopes or running out of the driver because of mechanical failure find the high bank or 7.5 m wide bridge a difficulty proposition to handle.

When a village and its facilities like source of water supply or school or place or employment like an industrial estate are located on the opposite side of the road, the situation is extremely accident prone. The villagers crossing the road to reach the facilities are exposed to being hit by vehicles travelling at great speed on the road.

It was seen that advance direction signs, indication the destination to which a branch road taking off from the main road was leading were absent at much location. The persons heading for such destination tend to brakes suddenly on realising that they are already at their branch road. The following vehicles many a times hit the vehicle in such a situation.

At many locations and in several stretches of the road committee noticed that the shoulder of roads were in a bad shape. At some places they were very much low as compared to the pavement. Where the cart track took off from the main road, the shoulder was found to have been very much deteriorated in the fanning portion of such cart track. In many instances such a portion was found to be almost half a meter or more lower that the shoulder immediately adjoining. This is a very dangerous situation particularly for 2 wheelers or small vehicles or heavily loaded vehicles which are forced on to the shoulder at night at such places,. At several places it was also found that on curves, though the road was in super elevation the outer shoulder had the usual camber sloping away from the edge of the carriageway. This also is considered to be a dangerous situation where a vehicle travelling slightly faster than the permissible limits on such curves is likely to overturn when its outer wheels cross the edge of the black topped pavement.

The committee also found that in the case of almost the full stretch of national highway and in the case of many state Highways, the traffic intensity on these roads is already far in excess of their capacity. This creates a great difficulty in overtaking. It also creates a dangerous situation when two large heavy vehicles crossed each other at high spedd without a divider in between. When shoulders are also in a bad shape in such stretches the danger is compounded. Two wheelers in particular are in very great danger.

Many accidents appear to have occurred because of lack of reflectors or tail lamps to many bullock carts or truck at night. When the drivers was blinded by lights of the on coming vehicle. He was unable to see such vehicles ahead of him and stood in danger of crashing against them.

The driver of broken trucks place large stone behind and by the side of their truck to protect themselves from other traffic. In most cases they forget to remove such stones when leaving the spot after repairing their vehicles. Such stone prove fatal for other vehicles, particularly two wheelers at night.

In many villages there is no separate space available for halting of state Transport buses,. The buses, therefore, stop right on the carriageway. Since the exist of these buses are at the rear end the passenger alight there and when they have to cross the road to reach their destination in the village they cross the road from behind the S.T. bus. While doing so they are hidden from the view of any vehicle coming in the opposite directions so that when they emerge from behind the bus they step right in front of such a vehicle. At several accident spots this was the reason for the accident.

Trucks parked near dhabas and petrol pumps and octroi naka close to the carriageway leave a very narrow lane either between them for the passing traffic. This is a source of accidents. Either people crossing the road are hit or sometimes there is head on collision also. It would be better if adequate parking space os acquired by the owners of these dhabas or petrol pump so that there is enough parking space inside their compound for the trucks. The roads would remain clear. For Octori Naka also municipal Corporation / Council may also be prevailed upon to create sufficient parking space off the road for the trucks. It would be helpful if they are also prevailed upon to streamline the operation of octroi collection so that the number of vehicles required to be parked is reduced.

Car Accident Treatment

Car accident treatment article by Dr Barry L. Marks, DC of Orange-Car-Accident.com Auto Accident Treatment specialist in Orange, CA
Car Accident Injuries (whiplash) must be treated. But not all treatments work. Hard medical evidence suggests that certain types of treatment are far superior at treating this problem.

Untreated and poorly treated cases of whiplash result in life long problems and suffering. It is estimated that 1% of the entire US population suffers from chronic headaches as the result of auto accident injuries otherwise known as whiplash. That means millions of headache sufferers are directly caused by auto accidents.

Improperly treated auto accident injury victims are more prone to long-term health problems such as premature osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. One study indicated a 600% chance of early osteoarthritis following car accident injuries if just one key finding was present on x-ray.

Unfortunately, HMO doctors, your family medical physician and even your general chiropractor are likely unaware of all the complexities involved in this type of injury. The result is improper treatment that does not address the important structural and functional damage that has occurred as a result of the car accident induced injury.

Several medical and scientific studies have proven chiropractic to be superior at treating auto accident injuries or whiplash. A study by Woodward, Cook, Gargan and Bannister found 93% of the patients studied under chiropractic care for chronic whiplash injuries had improved.

They further stated "...no conventional (medical) treatment has proven to be effective in these established chronic cases."

The problem is that even a good general chiropractor may not be a true specialist in car accident injury treatment and may overlook vital aspects of proper whiplash management. In order to avoid becoming one of the 25-40% of car accident injury victims whose pain becomes permanent or the 1% who suffers from chronic disabling headaches, then you'll want to be sure your treating doctor is a true car accident injury treatment specialist.

A true car accident injury treatment specialist is one who:

·Conducts a thorough consultation asking about your medical condition and pain, but also details about your accident to reconstruct the accident to know what injuries to look out for

·Performs a through physical examination

·Takes appropriate x-rays including views of the side, front, front with mouth open and bending forward and backward.

·Performs other specialized tests to locate and document injuries that may be hidden to a cursory exam or x-ray.

·Provides a written explanation of your condition and takes the time to make sure you understand what the basis of your problem is, how sever it is and what treatment options are available.

·Provides a treatment program based on your specific needs that has been proven to work

·Performs periodic re-examinations to ensure treatment is working and to point out if any other tests or exams are needed.

·Has a strong team of professionals of all specialties to consult with as appropriate.

Meet noted Orange County Car Accident Treatment Specialist,
Dr. Barry L. Marks, DC
·Specializing in car accident injury treatment since 1986
·Former Associate Clinical Professor at a leading Chiropractic College
·Post-Doctorate specialty training in spinal orthopedics
·Advanced Graduate Whiplash Traumatology & Brain Injury
·Post-Doctorate training in auto accident reconstruction
·Author of many articles on car accident injury treatment

Dr. Marks offers a free online seminar on car accident injury treatment and a free auto accident report at Orange-Car-Accident.com
Orange County, CA Car Accident Doctor
Car Accident? Then you need a specialist you can trust and who knows exactly what to do
Dr Barry Marks, DC
Orange, CA
OrangeCarAccident.com

Car accidents are a unique form of injury. Although you may think a strained neck from a rear-ender is the same as a strained neck from over exercising or sleeping wrong, you are wrong. What you don't know can come back to hurt you.

The forces suffered by your neck in a rear end car accident can be quite severe, even if your car was barely damaged. Car accident research ahs proven beyond dispute that the human neck can be damaged in a collision of only 2.5 mph. The average rear end collision in the US is 10-12 mph. That is more than 4x the human threshold for injury!

And while you may believe that auto accidents simply cause muscles to be strained, think again. The sudden jerk and shearing force of the collision causes damage to all of these structures:




Muscles

Ligaments

Tendons

Discs

Joint surfaces

Nerves

Brain



Are you starting to get the picture that these injuries are little more involved than you may have previously thought? I hope so.

The extent of damage to each of these tissues depends on many factors; age, gender, body type, position in vehicle, type of vehicles involved, angel of impact, previous injuries, prepared versus surprised victim at impact, and many more. Each car accident is totally unique. No two injured victims are alike.

Because injuries are serious and each person's injuries are unique, it takes a specialist to properly diagnose and treat them. A generalist chiropractor or medical physician may be able to provide relieving treatments, but what they may lack is proper skills to document ALL the injuries that are present and adequately care for them to prevent chronic pain that can often accompany untreated and improperly treated cases.

Only specialists steeped in the latest car accident research and trends know exactly how to circumnavigate the complex auto insurance claim world. There are behind the scenes rules the insurance industry has devised to evaluate your car accident claim that most doctors and lawyers are ignorant of.

Accidents

Nearly 37 million Americans visit hospital emergency rooms each year for treatment of injuries attributed to accidents. Of these, 147,000 persons die fromtheir injuries, making accidents the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. For persons under the age of 65, automobile accidents (accountingfor nearly 29% of all injury deaths) are the number one cause of accidentaldeaths in the United States. In second place are falls, which occur mainly inthe home; this type of accident is the leading cause of accidental death forpersons over 75.

By taking adequate precautions, many deaths due to accidents could be avoided. Many deaths occurring as the result of automobile accidents, for example, could be avoided if adults and children would use safety restraints, e.g., seat belts and restraint seats; it is estimated that one half of all adult fatalities and 90% of the deaths of children under five could have been preventedby the use of suitable restraints.

Drinking alcohol raises the risk of accidental injury and death. A relativelysmall amount of alcohol can impair a person's judgment, concentration, and reaction time. In 1996, 17,000 people died and more than 321,000 (for an average of one injury every two minutes) were injured in automobile accidents where police determined that alcohol was a factor. The injured included, besidesthe drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists who had been drinking.

Each year about one third of all adults over the age of 65 sustain falls. Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injury to elderly persons. Deaths from falls, or from complications arising as the result of a fall, are responsiblefor more than half of all accidental deaths of older persons. In addition, upto 25% of those who fall end up restricting their activities to prevent another fall. Although many falls can be attributed to an older person's unsteadygait, mobility problems, diminished vision, or use of multiple medications,there may also be contributing factors in the environment such as poor lighting, loose rugs, slippery surfaces, and objects on the floor that can be addressed before an accident occurs.

First degree burns (which involve damage to the epidermis, or outer layer ofskin) frequently result from minor household accidents such as touching a hotobject, a corrosive chemical (acids or alkalis), or uninsulated electrical wiring. Burns of this type can easily be prevented by exercising care when cooking or ironing, handling chemicals, or dealing with electricity.

In the case of accidents that leave the outer skin barrier scraped, cut, or punctured, it is essential that the injury be dealt with immediately to prevent infection.

Some authorities on childhood injuries prefer not to use the term accidents because most of these injuries are preventable and occur in predictable patterns. Children are particularly susceptible to preventable accidents, such as poisonings. A disproportionate number of childhood accidents are associated with stressful life events, such as the arrival of a new baby, divorce, death of a family member, or marriage of a parent. Parents can take appropriate measures to prevent their children from suffering accidental injury by noting that these accidents all too often involve chemicals stored in kitchen and dining areas; overheated bath water; electrical appliances; stairways; walkers; swimming pools; portable heaters; burning cigarettes; disposable lighters; toothpicks; firearms; microwave ovens; automatic garage doors; hazards associatedwith playpens, high chairs, or cribs; swings, slides, and other outdoor playequipment; windows; plastic bags; toy balloons and other toys; and discardedfreezers and refrigerators.

The increasing emphasis on exercise and sports accounts for many injuries. Anestimated 50 million Americans suffer at some point in their lives from kneepain or injuries, and at least one in four sports injuries involves the knee. Types of knee injuries include sprains (i.e., torn ligaments such as frequently occur in skiing, hockey, or soccer accidents), runner's knee (i.e., a degeneration of cartilage that affects nearly 30% of all runners but also showsup among skiers, cyclists, soccer players, and people who participate in high impact aerobics), and tendinitis (i.e., an inflammation of the tendons prevalent among dancers, hikers, and cyclists).

Muscle strains and sprains are typical of the types of accidents that resultfrom a single, abrupt incident; they are particularly common among weekend athletes don't know or have ignored the physical limitations of their muscles and joints.

Recent Accident

Date: November 25, 2010 Time: 12:07
Location: Strezhevoy, Russia
Operator: NARZ
AC Type: Mil Mi-8T
Reg: RA-22376 cn: 7257
Aboard: 10 Fatalities: 7 Ground: 0
Route: ?
Details: The helicopter, which was delivering workers to a drilling site, crashed and burned while attempting to land, after the tail rotor became entangled in wires.

Police report high number of road crashes in Crewe and across Cheshire because of icy roads

POOR weather conditions wreaked havoc across roads in Cheshire today (Thursday) with police responding to more than 150 accident calls.

Between 6am and 2pm Cheshire Police say there were more 76 collisions on the county’s roads and motorways because of ice - 17 of them in Crewe.

Despite the high number of crashes - some pile-ups have involved as many as 10 cars - none of the injuries reported have been life-threatening.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said the majority of calls reported cars skidding off the road, or colliding with other vehicles due to the poor road conditions.

He added as the evening rush hour is approaching police are advising people to only make journeys that are absolutely necessary, ensure the car is fully defrosted with full visibility and to maintain a safe and constant speed and avoid sudden breaking that can cause the car to skid.

Two people are dead after two separate crashes on South Island roads.

One person died and three were taken to Timaru Hospital following a crash involving a bus and a four wheel drive on State Highway 1 near Orari, South Canterbury, around noon.

Police confirmed the sole occupant of the four wheel drive is dead.

There were 19 people on the bus, three of which, two females and one male, have been taken to Timaru Hospital with moderate injuries.

Emergency services were at the scene and traffic diversions were in place.

Meanwhile, emergency services were at the scene of a fatal car accident at Clarks Junction, 30km south-west of Middlemarch in Central Otago just after 1pm.

One person is believed to have died in the crash, which may have involved a single vehicle, acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said.

Takoradi, Dec. 6, GNA - The Western Region recorded 136 deaths and 839 injuries from road accidents between January and September, Alhaji Sumani Mbo, Regional Manager of National Road Safety Commission, has said.



He said the same period also recorded 638 cases of road crashes, involving 833 vehicles.



Alhaji Mbo told the GNA in an interview that speeding was the key factor that contributed to the rise in the number of deaths as compared to last year in which the region recorded 133 deaths and 694 injuries.



"Speeding is a major cause of road traffic crash, accounting for over 60 per cent of reported cases", he said.

GNA

Whipped cream truck crashes outside home

LOS ANGELES -- Mark Leon lives in a sweet spot for big rigs in Los Angeles County.


Nine years after a truck hauling chocolate syrup crashed into his mobile home park, another rig hauling 36,000 pounds of whipped cream and sour cream crashed Tuesday just feet from his house.

Authorities say the truck, driven by an unlicensed 16-year-old, was stopped by a stand of trees and a chain-link fence just off Interstate 210. Three people had minor injuries.

The California Highway Patrol says the 16-year-old fell asleep and lost control of the big rig that toppled down an embankment.

Investigators say the teen's 20-year-old brother got tired and asked for driving help. Two cousins, ages 3 and 13, were also in the truck.




HAYWARD -- A BART police officer is in a local hospital this morning recovering from injuries sustained when a suspect fleeing capture slammed into the BART officer's car, the rapid transit agency reported.


Alameda County sheriff's deputies had stopped the suspect shortly before midnight on Sunday for driving a vehicle that had been reported as stolen from a Castro Valley BART station, BART said.

Facing a felony, the suspect tried to ram into one of the deputies before fleeing the traffic stop, BART said.

At that intersection, the suspect ran a red light and hit the BART officer's car, BART said. The police officer was proceeding on a green light when he was struck by the suspect, they said.

The BART officer was not assisting the sheriff's deputies in the car chase when he was hit, BART said.

The 38-year-old officer - whose name is being withheld at this time - was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening, BART said.

The officer has been with Bay Area Rapid Transit since 2001, BART said.

The suspect was arrested by sheriff's deputies at the scene and also transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening, BART said.

Deputies recovered a firearm from the stolen car, BART said.


Teen driver strikes two pedestrians, killing toddler

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- A two-year-old Rohnert Park girl was killed and her mother was seriously injured when they were struck by a vehicle Wednesday evening, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.


Two public safety officers who were conducting an unrelated traffic stop nearby witnessed the crash that occurred at Snyder Lane and Medical Center Driver at 5:39 p.m. and rushed to the victims' aid.

The two officers immediately began administering first aid and reported the crash, which involved a 1997 Honda driven by 18-year-old Rohnert Park woman Kaitlyn Dunaway.

Although police and fire units were called to the scene, they could not save the life of the two-year-old girl. The child's mother remained in intensive care Thursday evening, according to the department.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Date: November 5, 2010 Time: 07:10
Location: Near Karachi, Pakistan
Operator: JS Air
AC Type: Beechcraft 1900C-1
Reg: AP-BJD cn: UC-157
Aboard: 21 Fatalities: 21 Ground: 0
Route: Karachi - Oil compound in Sindh province
Details: The plane, carrying Italian oil company personne,l suffered an engine failure on climb-out and was attempting to return to the airport when it nose-dived and crashed near a residential area in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. All 17 passengers and crew of 4 were killed.

Date: November 4, 2010 Time: 17:45
Location: Near Guasimal, Cuba
Operator: Aerocaribbean Flight: 883
AC Type: ATR-72-212
Reg: CU-T1549 cn: 459
Aboard: 68 Fatalities: 68 Ground: 0
Route: Santiago de Cuba- Havana
Details: While the plane was en route, the pilot radioed an emergency message. Contact was lost and the plane crashed into mountainous terrain. All 61 passenger and 7 crew were killed.

Date: October 27, 2010 Time: 16:30
Location: Near Wami, Indonesia
Operator: Indonesian Police
AC Type: PZL Mielec M28-05PI Skytruck
Reg: P-4202
Aboard: 5 Fatalities: 5 Ground: 0
Route: Nabire - Ambon
Details: Five Indonesian police officers, on a mission to help flood victems, were killed when their plane crashed into a tree while attempting to land in poor weather conditons.

Recent Accidents

Date: November 24, 2010 Time: 14:30
Location: Monterey, Mexico
Operator: Military - Mexican Air Force
AC Type: Antonov 32B
Reg: FAM 3101 cn: 3306
Aboard: 5 Fatalities: 5 Ground: 0
Route: Monterey - Santa Lucia
Details: The military plane crashed while taking off on a logistics flight to Santa Lucia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: November 11, 2010 Time: 16:18
Location: Zalingei, Sudan
Operator: Tarco Airlines
AC Type: Antonov 24
Reg: ST-ARQ ? cn: 07305910
Aboard: 50 Fatalities: 1 Ground: 0
Route: Khartoum - Zalingei
Details: While attempting to land, the cargo plane suffered two burst tires, split in two and burst into flames.

Date: November 4, 2010 Time: 17:45
Location: Near Guasimal, Cuba
Operator: Aerocaribbean Flight: 883
AC Type: ATR-72-212
Reg: CU-T1549 cn: 459
Aboard: 68 Fatalities: 68 Ground: 0
Route: Santiago de Cuba- Havana
Details: While the plane was en route, the pilot radioed an emergency message. Contact was lost and the plane crashed into mountainous terrain. All 61 passenger and 7 crew were killed.

Date: November 5, 2010 Time: 07:10
Location: Near Karachi, Pakistan
Operator: JS Air
AC Type: Beechcraft 1900C-1
Reg: AP-BJD cn: UC-157
Aboard: 21 Fatalities: 21 Ground: 0
Route: Karachi - Oil compound in Sindh province
Details: The plane, carrying Italian oil company personne,l suffered an engine failure on climb-out and was attempting to return to the airport when it nose-dived and crashed near a residential area in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. All 17 passengers and crew of 4 were killed.

Recent Accident

Date: November 11, 2010 Time: 16:18
Location: Zalingei, Sudan
Operator: Tarco Airlines
AC Type: Antonov 24
Reg: ST-ARQ ? cn: 07305910
Aboard: 50 Fatalities: 1 Ground: 0
Route: Khartoum - Zalingei
Details: While attempting to land, the cargo plane suffered two burst tires, split in two and burst into flames.

A recent accident in a chemistry department laboratory at Texas Tech University will be investigated by the Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), Chairman John Bresland announced on Jan. 19. The investigation at the Lubbock, Texas, university will be CSB's first examination of an accident in an academic research lab.

One student, Preston Brown, 29, was seriously injured in the Jan. 7 accident and remains in critical condition, according to Eric Finley, a spokesperson with University Medical Center in Lubbock. Brown is being treated in the hospital's burn center, where he has been since the accident. Initially, press accounts said two students were injured; however, university officials say only one was hurt.

Brown received severe burns and lacerations to his face and hands when a mixture of nickel hydrazine perchlorate exploded during the afternoon accident in Texas Tech's chemistry building, according to a police report. University officials told CSB the accident involved the detonation of a high-energy metal compound. Texas Tech, the board reported, has an agreement with Northeastern University in Boston to study high-energy materials for the Department of Homeland Security.

The board, Bresland says, recently began taking notice of accidents in school research lab and "wondering how could this happen in an academic lab environment? We are seeing serious accidents in high school and university labs every year, including a tragic fatality a year ago at UCLA" (C&EN, Aug. 3, 2009, page 29).

"I believe it is time to begin examining these accidents," Bresland continues, "to see if they can be prevented through the kind of rigorous safety management systems that we and others have advocated in industrial settings."

Along with conducting the Texas Tech investigation, Bresland says CSB will collect information on other laboratory accidents to determine whether a more detailed study of academic lab safety is merited. This study could occur in the next fiscal year, he says. Investigations Supervisor Don Holmstrom, who manages the board's Denver office, will lead the investigation, along with CSB Investigator Mary Beth Mulcahy, a physical chemist and a former academic researcher.

In a statement, Texas Tech Vice President of Research Taylor Eighmy said, "We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board on the investigation of this incident. We look forward to completing our own internal investigation" Of the university's lab conduct, Eighmy pointed out, "Texas Tech is committed to safe practices and procedures. We have an excellent program in place, yet we believe this incident affords us an opportunity to proactively look at our safety training."

The university would not comment on the accident's cause or lab damage, nor would it provide information on the student.

The safety practices and culture at many university labs need to improve, says Russell Phifer, past chair of the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Health & Safety and Committee on Chemical Safety as well as a safety consultant.

"My impression is that CSB is very picky about what it investigates. They don't have a large staff and aren't rolling in dough," Phifer says. "So this investigation is very interesting. Maybe publicizing this particular investigation will wake up other institutions to the need to start paying attention and not lose track of the fact that there are hazardous materials and equipment in labs.

"On the other hand, I don't want mothers and fathers hearing about this and discouraging their kids from going into chemistry. This is important work and it should be done safely."

CSB has no regulatory authority. In its decade-long history, it has conducted root-cause investigations at more than 60 chemical industrial and distribution sites and issued 59 reports

Chad Jones Death

Nobody is really sure what happened when former LSU athlete and current New York Giants safety Chad Jones got in a single-vehicle accident June 25 on North Carrollton Avenue -- not even the two passengers with him.

The passengers with Jones -- Robert Anthony Newman, 24, who lives in New Orleans, and Michael Mansion, 20, who lives in Atlanta -- were asleep right before the accident happened, according to an accident report filed by the New Orleans Police Department and obtained by The Times-Picayune on Friday. Mansion was in the front passenger's seat, and Newman was in the seat behind Mansion

Jones was traveling east on North Carrollton when, for reasons unknown, he lost control of his 2010 Range Rover and hit a light pole in the median near Toulouse Street, totalling the vehicle and seriously injuring Jones' left leg. Newman and Mansion went to the hospital with Jones but were released after being treated for minor injuries.

Newman and Mansion told Bianca DeIrish, the investigating officer on the scene, that none of the three in the vehicle drank any alcohol before the crash. Jones was interviewed by DeIrish at University Hospital at about 8:50 a.m., but he was "heavily sedated" at the time and could not remember much about the accident.

Jones told DeIrish he was leaving an unknown Uptown apartment complex before he got into the accident, the report said. Jones said he didn't remember the cause of the accident at the time, but did remember being put on a stretcher to be taken to the hospital.

DeIrish "did not observe the smell and odor of an alcoholic beverage" at the accident scene, according to the report.

The report says a DWI test was not administered because paramedics on the scene told DeIrish there was not enough evidence to believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.

An ambulance arrived on the scene at 6:25 a.m., about 10 minutes after it was dispatched. The ambulance left the scene at 6:48 a.m. and got to University Hospital at 6:51 a.m.

How fast Jones was driving is unknown. The report says DeIrish saw no skidmarks at the scene.

The speed limit for that part of North Carrollton Avenue is 35 mph.

Jones was cited for careless operation of a vehicle, and the investigation is closed, according to the report. Jones' fiancee, Jade Newman, signed the citation for Jones.

Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said Friday he didn't have an update on Jones' condition. Jones, a third-round draft pick, is receiving treatment at a New York hospital, and Hanlon said Jones likely will go through rehab in Baton Rouge.

Hanlon said he does not believe the accident will affect Jones' contract with the Giants. Jones signed his contract June 11 and has already received his signing bonus.

Newman and Mansion were unavailable for comment. Calls made to Jones' father, Al, and his agent, Rocky Arceneaux, were not returned Friday.

Jones' vehicle, which did not have a license plate at the time but was insured, was eventually towed from the scene.