Posted on Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.
Ann Arbor police on scene of serious injury accident on East Stadium
By Edward Vielmetti
Police, fire, and ambulances are on the scene at an accident in the 1700 block of East Stadium at Ferdon on Wednesday evening at 6:15 p.m.
Edward Vielmetti | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor police are on the scene of a serious injury crash at East Stadium and Ferdon Road.
Police officials said the two-car crash caused serious injuries, and both directions of East Stadium and Ferdon are currently closed. The roads are likely to be closed for an hour or two, police said.
Police did not have further details on the crash.
Comments
Adam Jaskiewicz
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.
It would only "have the same impact" if the other car was a brick wall and was still going 35 after the collision.
Freemind42
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.
C6, thank you for pointing out how physics works. I almost cried when I read the post you were responding to. There is one variable you left out (I am assuming for simplicity) that both cars are not exactly the same and only one car was in motion. Your point is still true, but as I'm sure you know, there are more details involved in figuring out the transfer of energy.
C6
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
"Two cars hitting head on going 35 has the same impact as one car hitting a brick wall at 70 mph." Sorry, but no. A vehicle traveling 70 would have 4 times as much energy as the same vehicle traveling 35 (square of the velocity). All energy would be dissipated in the hitting any immovable obstacle, such as a brick wall or another car. Even adding up the dissipated energy from both cars in that accident will only be half the energy one car would have at 70. Imagine it this way. Two identical cars with identical velocitys collide head-on at 35. At the point of impact is an imaginary line between them. Neither will push past that line. So replacing that imaginary line with a brick wall will cause EXACTLY the same damage to each vehicle. Hitting this wall at 35 IS THE SAME as hitting the other vehicle at 35. Only because two cars are involved in that head-on collision, is there twice the energy dissipated. But for each individual car, the results are the same as if they each hit that brick wall.
C6
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : 8:01 a.m.
"I was waiting behind a driver who was turning left and was rearended by a driver who was doing about 60 mph." You were hit by someone driving at 60 in the left turn lane? That tops the idiot who passed me at 65+ on the right shoulder of M-14 in heavy traffic Tuesday evening. I guess that's what his truck's "off road package" was intended for however.
C6
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.
"The problem is if they were enforcing the speed limit they would be accused here of trying to reach a quota!" I don't think I'd mind, even if they officially announced there was a quota. First however, we need to be sure we have reasonable and realistic speed limits posted on our streets. 35 or 40 is probably reasonable for this portion of East Stadium. 40 or 45 would be more reasonable on Huron Parkway for example, in that favored "speed trap" between Geddes and Washtenaw. So my proposal is this: Give us reasonable and realistic speed limits and then enforce them for all you're worth. The city can use those dollars the fines would generate.
roadsidedinerlover
Thu, Mar 4, 2010 : midnight
I hope they survived their injuries! This stretch of Stadium is so bad for people speeding etc. I was waiting behind a driver who was turning left and was rearended by a driver who was doing about 60 mph. I hope the AAPD keep a better eye and radar on this road.
jcj
Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 10:16 p.m.
The problem is if they were enforcing the speed limit they would be accused here of trying to reach a quota!
breadman
Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 9:24 p.m.
It might be posted 35 for a speed limit on that section of Stadium. I have drove that part of Stadium many times at 35, feel like a snail crawling down the road, everyone passes me. So now when are AAPD going to enforce the speed limit?
Lisa
Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 9:17 p.m.
So scary. Actually, even 35 mph roads can have bad accidents. Two cars hitting head on going 35 has the same impact as one car hitting a brick wall at 70 mph. Being in a car is the most dangerous thing most of us will ever do.
Neda
Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 8:50 p.m.
I passed this accident a little bit after 6. This must have been a very serious accident. The police were taking photos at the scene. Looks like there were 3 cars involved. There were 2 cars however that were very badly impacted: a ford taurus and a sebring convertible. I have no idea how this could have occurred b/c speed limit is only 35 mph on this road, but it was VERY bad. I hope everyone ends up okay. :(
Chris
Wed, Mar 3, 2010 : 8:19 p.m.
Just drove by and Stadium is still closed. The cars involved are still in the street so I'm guessing the accident investigation is still going to be awhile.