Drivers, Pomeranians OK after accident that sent car crashing into courthouse
A Lincoln LS sits on the sidewalk after colliding with a streetlight and the wall of the Washtenaw County Trial Court building shortly after 5 p.m. Monday at the corner of East Huron Street and Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
A Monday evening crash at the intersection of East Huron Street and Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor sent a Lincoln flying toward the Washtenaw County Trial Court building, plowing over a street lamp in the process.
The Lincoln driver, Taylor Moore of Ann Arbor, was shaken but uninjured. The occupants of a Chrysler Pacifica - Constantine Ioannou of Ann Arbor, and his two mixed Pomeranians, Lady and Balu - also were OK.
A mixed Pomeranian waits in the back seat of a police cruiser after an accident between a Lincoln LS and a Chrysler Pacifica Monday evening at the corner of Fourth and Huron.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
The Pomeranian pooches were placed in the back of an Ann Arbor Police Department patrol vehicle while authorities investigated the scene.
According to Ann Arbor police, Moore was westbound on East Huron as Ioannou was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto northbound Fourth Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Monday. The light was in the process of turning red.
Moore said he was having a hard time seeing because of large trucks beside him and didn’t know the Pacificia was coming. As he tried going through the light, it became apparent the Pacifica was turning left. The vehicles collided.
“The initial hit was like, ‘Boom!’” Moore said. “It was unavoidable.”
The impact sent the Lincoln into the courthouse.
Ioannou said he started braking when he saw the Lincoln continue through the light.
“As soon as I saw him, I starting hitting the brakes,” he said.
Both vehicles swerved, avoiding a T-bone.
Ioannou said his dogs were fine after the crash - and may have not even known anything had happened.
“They didn’t even react,” he said.
Ann Arbor police said Moore will likely be ticketed for running a red light. DTE Energy was called to the scene to deal with the destroyed lamppost.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
chelle
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
Arborani Pomerania - is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River However in this story it is referring to the dogs :)
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Actually the dogs were only visiting. Their visa is up at the end of summer.
arborani
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
Thanks to Chelle, as well. Learn something every day (almost).
djm12652
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
My bad...I thought the dogs were from Ann Arbor...
Doug
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Isn't Google great?
arborani
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
Side Issue: where, exactly, is or was Pomerania? Never saw it on a map or even in a book.
arborani
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
Thanks, Halflight!
halflight
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
Pomerania is a region split between northern Germany and Poland, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomerania
Ricebrnr
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
AA.com you spelled Pacifica as "Pacificia" in the 5th paragraph Also kudos for having Moore admit fault on the record.
southsiderez
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
We were sitting outside at a restaurant on Main St this weekend and cars were driving by way too fast. One of these days I'm afraid someone is going to take out a sidewalk full of diners.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
I often make this turn, several times a week in fact including Saturdays. One time in ten I can make the left with a green light. Most often though only one car can turn left onto NB 4th during a light rotation. That first car only has a shot if they are in the intersection (blocking N/S traffic). Almost every driver runs the WB Huron yellow, so that you are making the left during the red light, if you are already in the intersection than the N/S traffic (if they were stopped at the light) will see what you are doing, it's more dangerous when no cars are stopped but that hasn't happened (as they may not see you as they barrel down at a green light). However, sneaking the left turn in during a green/yellow/or red (if your nose was already in the intersection) can be thrown a curve ball by a pedestrian, so you can't really commit to the left during a green, it is just safer to wait until the WB traffic has stopped altogether for either the yellow (which almost never happens) or the red (which is when I most often end up turning). I will add that if I am behind someone as the second left I know I am not moving until the next light rotation, however if this person does not eek out into the intersection they aren't going anywhere either. Maybe I am making an illegal turn during a red light (or yellow if I am lucky) but I have made the turn the exact way with a cop behind me, and once when a cop snuck through as the second car turning left on a red light. The problem is most drivers either run a yellow light (or red) or jump off at a green light, you know b/c it so hard to count to three to make sure all other traffic including pedestrians is clear before applying the gas. Another problem is there are not very many dedicated left turn signals and the traffic signals don't have much of a pause between when one direction turns red and the other direction turns green.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
In Wayne County there are more intersections (almost all) where the left lane light flashes red so that if oncoming traffic is clear you can turn left rather than wait for a dedicated green light from your signal. This wouldn't be useful downtown, but I have noticed many intersections where it would be. Liberty/Stadium, Pauline/Stadium, Liberty/Maple, Maple/Dexter, Maple/Miller are a few that come to mind. So for example when the NB traffic for example gets a green light, the left turn signal flashes red, you can turn if you can make it, when the NB traffic gets a red than the left hand signals green. Right now the only light I have noticed that does this around here is at Carpenter and Mich Ave.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
@dmj, I have noticed the light blowers as well. I think a lot of the ones blowing through the yellow to get to 5th are hoping they will be able to sneak in a turn on red onto fifth ave, likewise the light blowers traveling westbound are hoping to be able to sneak in a right on red onto NB Main St. I noticed at the 4th/Huron intersection when I am waiting to make a left turn, the car most likely to blow through the yellow is the car in the farthest lane (or right lane WB). as for the timing of the lights you suggested I don't know, I do know I don't use that light as a guide of when to turn (like it's yellow I get to turn) but I keep my eye out during the yellow at the red for when cars stop, before turning. If you are not already in the middle of the intersection than the pedestrians who just got the N/S walk sign will cross infront of you and not behind you. Yesterday I was downtown and looking to make a left onto another street with the same scenario as I stated above, only both cars stopped for the yellow but a BICYCLE blew through as the light turned red! A few days before that I was at the light on NB Huron and 5th and saw a car waiting for quite a few pedestrians before making a left onto EB Huron and two people on bikes came speeding through the walk sign SB, they were trying to beat the walk sign and could have easily knocked a walker down and they almost got hit by the car. people just need to slow the heck down especially downtown where it is congested (and many people who drive downtown are NOT familiar with it) Pedestrians also need to respect traffic and not jaywalk and people on bikes need to slow down and follow the rules too.
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Have they done a study to see if a turn lite might be available? Sure sounds like they need one there.
djm12652
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:18 p.m.
In most cases, the yellow is timed for 1 second for every 10 miles of speed...so it may be a 3 second light but enough time for people to stop before it turns red...of course if they are traveling the speed limit...I cross Huron at 4th walking my dogs and have watched people blow the light at Main st and then have to stop for the red at 4th....or those that blow the red at 4th then get stopped at 5th...where do they think they're gonna go?
Pete
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:57 a.m.
It sounds to me as though the Chrysler was IN the intersection BEFORE the light turned yellow, waiting to complete a turn when oncoming traffic cleared. Dogs or no, that does not seem like poor driving. Enter the intersection on green, glance up at the light, see yellow, assume oncoming traffic will stop (bad assumption these days) and finish your left turn. I do this routinely (and have had to panic-stop for the sister/brother of the Lincoln driver a few times).
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Interesting. Very interesting.
djm12652
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:09 p.m.
So you know the Moore family?
fishjamaica
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:48 a.m.
I drive better texting drunk, than some people who might drive with dogs jumping on their laps, blocking their view and stepping on the steering wheel. I love my dog but driving with one on your lap is driving impaired.
djm12652
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
So you admit to driving drunk while texting? Please let me know when you are on the road so I can avoid your on road behavior! And let the cops know where you are.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:27 a.m.
"Ioannou was attempting to make a left-hand turn..... The light was in the process of turning red." Used to be people stopped for yellow lights in the "good old days". It seems anymore A yellow is considered "last call" to get through the intersection.
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
That was the good old days. Now a days no one stops and I still see people running red lites. Especially when I know as I going thru the intersection I see a green go to yellow and know it is red on the other side. People just do not know when to slow down. Always in a hurry.
Doug
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:16 p.m.
The yellow also means speed up!
Chris Gerben
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:24 a.m.
They were showdogs. With papers.
djm12652
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
I'd say any papers for the dogs would have come in handy!
TrappedinMI
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Glad everyone is ok. Thanks for the laughs from the quotes from The Big Lebowski. Too funny!
Jasem Yousuf
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
Chris, thank you for this comment and your other reply. you've made my day.
Chris Gerben
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Apparently a lot of you aren't golfers
L'chaim
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:08 a.m.
I can't leave him home alone or he eats the furniture.
obviouscomment
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:06 a.m.
While I understand the cause of the accident, I'm just curious...were the dogs properly restrained or just running freely in the car?
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
There is no law that states dogs have to be restrained. Although I believe NJ just passed a law saying they have to be. Ours are buckled in unless it is a short trip to the store and back.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:24 a.m.
neither
Ricebrnr
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:01 a.m.
I disagree with the assessment that it was "unavoidable"
a2cents
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
should happen to more folks cheating on lights... with stiff punishments, like turn 'em into peds
jns131
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
That I totally agree with. After re reading that info? That guy should have just waited if he could not see beyond the trucks. Better to wait then to have this happen. Wow.
gladys
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.
Glad to hear the drivers and dogs are ok. Too bad they couldn't have hit the rusty urinal.
Barb
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
I guarantee that would end up costing us more.
Billy
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:27 a.m.
That could only improve it....
smokeblwr
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
As a taxpayer and sometime juror and plaintiff I hope the courthouse does not require repairs.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
as a defendant I hope there's a big ole hole in the sided of the building. ;)
tommy_t
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.
pricey.