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Car smashes into pieces and 'flies' after dozing driver crashes into median strip on expressway

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Car smashes into pieces and 'flies' after dozing driver crashes into median strip on expressway
News

News

Car smashes into pieces and 'flies' after dozing driver crashes into median strip on expressway

2018-07-17 13:32 Last Updated At:13:32

Appeal to all irresponsible diver: don't even come out!

In mainland China, police have already repeatedly warned people not to drive when they are tired, but many still do it knowingly.

Recently in Chongqing, a car carrying five people, including the driver himself, crashed into the median strip on the expressway because he was dozing off at that time.

Video screencap

Video screencap

The median strip was used for separating the road from the service area while the sleeping driver smashes his car into it. Fortunately, this intersection was equipped with safety crash buckets, so the driver and passengers were only slightly injured even the car hit hard and got damaged badly. 

A CCTV took the thrilling incident occurred on 12 July, last Thursday when the private car crashed into Weilong's service area of Chongqing Yurong expressway.

After the collision, it stopped at the entrance of the service area. The traffic police received calls and went to the scene to investigate. No skid marks were found nor did the vehicle show signs of changing direction. The driver admitted to the traffic police that he was sleepy and unaware of the road condition when he was driving pass. He woke up in shock only after the crash happened. 

A Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly cashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing a young brother and sister and injuring several other people.

Marshella Chidester, 66, did not enter a plea to the eight counts she faces in Saturday's tragic crash at the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Detroit.

During a court hearing that was livestreamed, Chidester’s right arm was in a cast from just above the elbow to her fingers.

She has been jailed since the crash and the judge set her bond at the $1.5 million prosecutors requested after relatives of some of the victims asked him to set it at that level.

In arguing for the $1.5 million bond, prosecutor Jeff Yorkey told the court that Chidester has had substance abuse issues that were corroborated by her friends and family.

Defense attorney Bill Colovos asked the judge to set Chidester's bond at $100,000. He said she only had a glass of wine and a bowl of chili four hours before the crash, and that she has suffered since November with “epileptic-type seizures in her legs.”

“This is not a monster, ” Colovos said. “It's horrible what happened, but there are some things we don't have control over.”

Colovos added that prior to Saturday’s crash, Chidester had no traffic tickets or police record.

Yorkey responded that there was no indication that Chidester suffered a seizure before the crash and that testing showed her blood alcohol level was “significantly over the legal limit.”

If Chidester posts bond, she will be required to forfeit her passport, have no alcohol, wear a tether and not drive. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for April 30 followed by a May 6 preliminary examination.

Chidester is a former commodore at the boat club, The Detroit News reported.

The crash killed 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips, the sheriff's office said. Their mother and another sibling were among the injured.

Raquel Smouthers told the court that she was at the party and witnessed the deaths of her nephew and niece.

“They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman crashed her car through this building destroying all of our lives," a nearly inconsolable Smouthers said. "Nobody should ever have to go to a birthday party thinking that they’re gonna die.”

The dead children's mother, Mariah Dodds, is suing Chidester and the tavern where she reportedly was before the crash, according to a Detroit law firm representing Dodds.

Dodds suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung, cuts and bruises, the law firm said. Her surviving son suffered broken legs, broken ribs and a fractured skull.

The boat club located off Swan Creek near Lake Erie is a membership-based organization that hosts holiday parties and other events, and provides docking space for members who own boats, according to its website. The club also advertises on social media that members can rent the clubhouse or pavilion for personal events including birthday parties.

This story was updated to correct the spelling of Raquel Smouthers' last name, which had been misspelled “Smothers.”

Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed.

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing the 4-year-old birthday boy and his 8-year-old sister and injuring several other people. (Monroe County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing the 4-year-old birthday boy and his 8-year-old sister and injuring several other people. (Monroe County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing the 4-year-old birthday boy and his 8-year-old sister and injuring several other people. (Monroe County Sheriff's Office via AP)

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing the 4-year-old birthday boy and his 8-year-old sister and injuring several other people. (Monroe County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Murder charges filed against woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids

Murder charges filed against woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids

Murder charges filed against woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids

Murder charges filed against woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids

Authorities respond to the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle through a building where a children's birthday party was taking place, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Berlin Township, Mich. (Kathleen Kildee/Detroit News via AP)

Authorities respond to the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle through a building where a children's birthday party was taking place, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Berlin Township, Mich. (Kathleen Kildee/Detroit News via AP)

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