July 22, 2007
Van Collision Has Fatal Finale
Little Girl's Dash Across Street Ends Tragically
Crash Kills Young Girl
Van Driver Had No Time to React Say Witnesses
[in this story, click the pictures below to see video clips of the interview.]
By Tony Seaton
Huntington News Network
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Rachel Benson, the 11-year-old girl hit by a Prestera Center van around noon Friday, is dead. She died Friday evening, shortly after the accident. Due to the wishes of the family and provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, [known as HIPAA,] Cabell Huntington Hospital can not confirm her death. However, a family member, one minister, and eye-witnesses to the horrific collision of van and little girl, all confirmed to Huntington News Network late Saturday, that Rachel Benson has passed away. Since the hospital can give out no information until the victim is ‘no longer in the hospital,’ according to spokeswoman Kathy Cosco, any cause of death, (which they also do not confirm,) has not been released. According to eye-witnesses, however, the cause was obvious.
Rachel darted into the path of oncoming traffic on Ninth Avenue, and was immediately struck by the Prestera van traveling southbound from 20th Street. Her head smashed into the windshield and she was thrown a considerable distance. Upon impact with the ground, she was motionless. Emergency personel were on-scene within minutes, and according to Reverend Roy Terry, of 16th Street Baptist Chuch, almost immediately took her to the hospital. She was admitted in critical condition, according to reports, but her chances were slim. Neighbor Lisa Breedlove saw the whole thing from her front porch where she was watching her three children, and says Rachel was hit with such force that it sent her flying.
Besides commenting on the accident, several residents of the neighborhood on 9th Avenue where the accident occurred noted that there are absolutely no speed limit signs on that end of 9th Avenue, or any “Slow. Children Playing” signs, even though dozens of children were in the area, [including some who also were seen darting in and out of traffic,] and according to neighbors, always are, whether they’re going to get their summer lunch meals at Scott Community Center, or getting on a van that takes them to camp. Huntington News left messages with several officials on Saturday for comment, but no calls were returned. Eye-witness Lisa Breedlove was shaken by the accident, as was the neighborhood.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
Crash Kills Young Girl
Van Driver Had No Time to React Say Witnesses
[in this story, click the pictures below to see video clips of the interview.]
By Tony Seaton
Huntington News Network
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Rachel Benson, the 11-year-old girl hit by a Prestera Center van around noon Friday, is dead. She died Friday evening, shortly after the accident. Due to the wishes of the family and provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, [known as HIPAA,] Cabell Huntington Hospital can not confirm her death. However, a family member, one minister, and eye-witnesses to the horrific collision of van and little girl, all confirmed to Huntington News Network late Saturday, that Rachel Benson has passed away. Since the hospital can give out no information until the victim is ‘no longer in the hospital,’ according to spokeswoman Kathy Cosco, any cause of death, (which they also do not confirm,) has not been released. According to eye-witnesses, however, the cause was obvious.
Rachel darted into the path of oncoming traffic on Ninth Avenue, and was immediately struck by the Prestera van traveling southbound from 20th Street. Her head smashed into the windshield and she was thrown a considerable distance. Upon impact with the ground, she was motionless. Emergency personel were on-scene within minutes, and according to Reverend Roy Terry, of 16th Street Baptist Chuch, almost immediately took her to the hospital. She was admitted in critical condition, according to reports, but her chances were slim. Neighbor Lisa Breedlove saw the whole thing from her front porch where she was watching her three children, and says Rachel was hit with such force that it sent her flying.
Besides commenting on the accident, several residents of the neighborhood on 9th Avenue where the accident occurred noted that there are absolutely no speed limit signs on that end of 9th Avenue, or any “Slow. Children Playing” signs, even though dozens of children were in the area, [including some who also were seen darting in and out of traffic,] and according to neighbors, always are, whether they’re going to get their summer lunch meals at Scott Community Center, or getting on a van that takes them to camp. Huntington News left messages with several officials on Saturday for comment, but no calls were returned. Eye-witness Lisa Breedlove was shaken by the accident, as was the neighborhood.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
