Archive for February, 2012

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27
Feb

Drunk Driver Responsible For String Of Crashes On I-530

February 27, 2012

Police say that a 35-year-old man from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, has been charged in connection with a multiple-vehicle crash that injured several motorists. Reports from FOX 16 News indicate that the accident occurred at approximately 5:47 Saturday morning along I-530, just south of the Dixon Road exit.

According to police, the man was allegedly driving drunk when he rear-ended another vehicle while headed northbound on the highway, causing it to flip.

The first accident forced a motorist that was behind the two vehicles to veer across the center median of the highway, hitting a southbound vehicle head-on. Five other vehicles also crashed while trying to avoid the collision.

The driver of the flipped vehicle was trapped in the car after it landed on its hood. Rescue crews had to cut the victim free of the wreckage and then airlift the motorist to a nearby hospital where the victim is now listed in critical condition. Several other motorists suffered minor injuries as a result of the crashes.

The alleged drunk driver is being charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terroristic threatening, one count of driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test, driving with a suspended license, careless driving, and failure to stay in the lane.

The Arkansas Auto Accident Attorneys with Rainwater, Holt and Sexton ask that we all do our part to keep the state’s highways safe by not drinking and driving.

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20
Feb

Manufacturer Seeks FDA Approval Of Controversial Weight-Loss Drug

February 20, 2012

Diet pill manufacturer Vivus Inc. is preparing to make a second attempt to persuade the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve one of their products later this week. According to reports from KATV 7 News, FDA officials still have concerns over the safety of the weight-loss medication the company is seeking approval for.

In October 2010, the FDA rejected the company’s proposal for approval of the diet pill Qnexa, saying they needed more information regarding the drug’s safety. Among the risks the FDA was concerned with were potential heart problems and birth defects in the children of women who became pregnant while taking the drug.

Qnexa is a combination of two other drugs that have a long history of complications and abuse potential. One of the main active ingredients in the drug is phentermine, a stimulant that acts as an appetite suppressant and was part of the dangerous fen-phen weight loss combination associated with serious heart complications.

On Wednesday, Vivus will resubmit their proposal by offering to conduct a follow-up study to monitor patients for heart problems after short-term use of the drug.

The Arkansas Drug Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to remind you to discuss the risks of taking a medication with your doctor and pharmacist before starting a drug regimen. If you feel it may be unsafe to take a drug, do not hesitate to seek a second opinion from another qualified physician.

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13
Feb

New Cable Barrier System To Be Installed Along Arkansas’ I-540

February 13, 2012

A new project designed to make Interstate-540 in Benton County, Arkansas, safer for motorists is scheduled to break ground in several weeks. According to reports from 4029 TV News, the $5 million project will install a cable barrier system in the median of the highway in order to stop accidents that occur when cars cross into oncoming lanes.

The cable barriers act as a snare, catching a crashing vehicle within its steel ropes, in the event of an accident. Experts say that the cable barriers are just as effective in preventing crashes with oncoming vehicles as a concrete barrier wall is, but are more giving and less likely to injure those involved in a crash.

The project comes after a fatal crash that occurred along the highway in January. A spokesman for the Arkansas State police department, Sergeant John Oberman, said that a 51-year-old female driver lost control of her vehicle, crossed over the median of I-540 and struck another vehicle head-on. Sergeant Oberman stated he believed the accident might not have occurred if the cable barrier system had been installed prior to the crash.

The Arkansas auto accident attorneys with Rainwater, Holt and Sexton are optimistic that the new barrier system will be able to save lives. They also ask that you do your part to stay safe on the road by buckling up, watching your speed, and paying close attention to your surroundings.

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6
Feb

Five Killed, Three Injured In Head-On Collision Along Arkansas Highway

February 6, 2012

A head-on collision between two vehicles on an Arkansas highway has left five people dead and three children seriously injured. According to reports from THV News, the accident happened Sunday afternoon along Highway 7, just outside Centerville, Arkansas.

Reports from Arkansas State Police say that the crash occurred when a 28-year-old male drive crossed the center median lines on the highway and struck a vehicle carrying two mothers and their six children head-on.

Both mothers and three of their children were declared dead at the scene of the crash. The three other children were taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital where they were last listed in good condition this morning.

Head-on collisions are among the most deadly type of accident a driver can be involved in. The rising number of fatal head-on collisions has been associated with the rising number of distracted drivers, according to one report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The data shows that as many as 26 percent of all injury accidents involved a driver being distracted in some way.

The Arkansas auto accident attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton ask that drivers keep themselves and others safe on the road by putting all distractions aside when behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. If all Arkansas residents chose to do so, it could eliminate thousands of accidents and injuries every year.

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