2nd unbelted victim of Saturday's crash dies
Albemarle police are urging all motorists to fasten their seatbelts after three unbuckled people died in the span of three days on Route 29 South. The latest death came Sunday, October 25, when Joshua Woolmer, a 13-year-old from Edgewood, Maryland was taken off life support after the accident that claimed another Edgewood 13-year-old, Destiny Greene, at the scene a day earlier. Police say that Greene's grandmother, 53-year-old Jo Ann Greene, was driving a Dodge van northbound on the road also known as Monacan Trail during heavy rain when it left the roadway and struck a tree in the median. They say that witnesses mentioned leaves on the roadway at the time of the crash, which hospitalized the grandmother and a fourth person in the van, 42-year-old Maryland resident Larry Daughtry, both of whom reportedly wore seatbelts. The double-fatal crash came just two days after 53-year-old North Garden farmer Kathryn Russell, reportedly unbelted, died in an accident in the same vicinity.
42 comments
To whom it may concern,
Yes wearing a seatbelt is a law and also is very important for the safety of everyone.As far as the ignorance part people need to understand everyone is human we all make mistakes as a mother of three and grandmother of 3 front seatbelts are mandatory. As far as rear seats I find myself at times taking it for granted that the older ones have them on. They have been told since they were little children to always buckle up. In this accident no ones knows for sure if the seat belt would have made a difference in either child. There have been accidents where wearing a seatbelt has trapped or been a contributing factor in major injury or even death. Yes they save many more lives than not, but blame in this should not be an issue. The pain this family has to endure is tremendous. Pointing fingers is unneccessary and in my opinion a true form of ignorance.
Donna Elliott
"You idiots are not getting the point. THEY HAD THEIR SEATBELTS ON. Plain and simple.............I hope when the real story becomes public you can’t sleep at night. Jo is a wonderful woman and would have given her own life to save those kids."
NO THEY DID NOT! Seatbelted people are not ejected from vehicles, except in very rare cases. And I'm talking 1 in 10,000. And don't worry, I'll sleep like a baby. A baby safely belted into a booster seat, that is. I'm sure Jo is a nice person. She also made a stupid mistake. One that people with common sense DO NOT MAKE.
It should be common sense, but a short video is worth a thousand words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7iYZPp2zYY
i was Destiny friend and she was a very kind person.it wasnt that hard to get along with her. she will be missed by many people.all we can do now is pray for her and her family,friends.
and just because the report says they didnt have theyre seat belts on dont mean its true. so dont say people are inorance when you dont know them!
You are gone, but never ever forgotten, and never will be! Miss you both every minute of everyday, love you both alwayz and forever-
We will love you forever sweet babies- we miss you every second and our heartz are sad without you here- till we meet again, Destiney&Josh I love you!
Stacey and I adopted the song"Fireflies" by Owl City to be our Destiney song. First time we heard it, we cried. Now when we listen we hear her message. She loved to be happy and brighten people's lives like a firefly. Josh had to be the same special kind of person. Miss you :)
First of all I would like to thank the people for all the support that they have giving both families during this time of heartache. As the uncle of one of the victims I would implore people to get their facts straight. I will not be commenting on details as the investigator will not be either until everything is complete. Strong evidence is coming out that they were wearing seatbelts. Yes it is possible for people to be ejected from mva while wearing seatbelts. Vehicles are made by humans. There are several reports from all over the country about accidents similar to this. When you have such a force of impact, there have been many cases when the material on the floor of a vehicle has literally sawed off the bolts of the seatbelt from the frame of the vehicle causing the seatbelt to become, well not a seatbelt, therefore ejecting the person or persons from the vehicle. For all those that have commented on here defending our kids, WE THANK YOU!!! As for these other narrow minded individuals that think they know everything. I don't plan to waste my time dealing with you. The truth will come out and when it does... would you prefer salt, pepper, or hot sauce for the foot that is going in your mouth?
I am the Mom of the boy that was killed. My son had major broken bones associated with wearing a seatbelt. I pray to God to help the people that are ignorant. To open their eyes and not judge people. The one that should judge, is our Father in Heaven. I Thank each and every person that stopped and helped on that rainey dreary day. God put Angels on this earth.
There was evidence of the two wearing seatbelts. This report is incorrect. When your a child and that amount of force strikes a car it is enough to eject the victim.
It seems people are making such an issue of seatbelts and yes they are a safety device. In this case everyone need to remember one fact. We have no control of our time on this earth. When its our time factors of seatbelts dont come into play. God will is just that his time for us to come home. A place we will all be one day. When or how is not our decision. Now is a time to moarn the loss and celebrate there lives. Who they were and what many acomplishments they achieved while they were blessed to be on this earth. Dont waste time on blame. Take that time and pray for the ones left behind,pray the day never comes when we as parents have to grieve over the loss of a child, and first and formost hold your babies and loved ones a little closer no one is ever promised a tommorow.
Donna Elliott
To In this day and age....you need some help!!! Like to know how you got so perfect.
My heart bleeds for these children and their families.
Unbridled filthy language is the mark of a lowlife, isn't it? It's inappropriate. There's already enough outrage to go around, right? The report right here says 3 people were unbelted and 3 people died. In a crash a couple weeks ago in N Albemarle, a young man was thrown out of his Honda cause he wasn't belted, don't know how he is doing now, but he was pretty messed up - broke his parents' hearts, I'm sure. The girl he ran into head on was a single mother - her boyfriend was killed 2 yrs ago when HE crossed the double yellow and hurt somebody else in oncoming traffic. The news report - you guessed it - says he was unbelted too.
If it's not true, contact the paper and ask them to update the story. Like day and age says, the cops are asking people to belt up after this crash.
the 10 or 20 % of the people who don't wear seatbelts are involved in a disproportionate number of crashes, because they tend to be reckless people - that's a fact.
I don't really think anyone wants this granma to suffer, and it's no disrespect to the memory of these children to point out something to parents and drivers everywhere they should pay attention to.
bless 'em. I hope they have gone to a better place and I do believe we will all be together again.
to DeeMan-
"Honestly, I hope this Grandmother, that by all accounts killed her Grandkids because she was ignorant, suffers for the rest of her life. If I killed three people I was in charge of because of something idiotic I did, I would expect to suffer. As far as some of us being perfect,”Šplease. We aren’t perfect. We just use facts and common sense as guides in our lives.People need to buck up and admit when they screw up."
Your right people arent perfect! but were your wrong is that her grandmother is going to suffer because she is going to think it is her fault for the rest of her life but your basically saying she should suffer is wrong!Dont you think she is going threw enough take the pain she is going threw tring to survive and the fact that her granddaughter is gone for ever and the other boy is hard enough.So why would you say that I think the family and friends is going threw enough right now and your not helping it but that post!
I knew Destiny and she was so full of joy! She was wise beyond her years. I did not know Josh but heard he and Dess were the best of friends.
They are gone and no words can heal-only time can help somewhat. The only thing I think about is how they lived, not by how they died.
Please let the families grieve without controversy. Thank you.
I agree 100% with James and Linda-NO ONE has the right to judge other than God. So many people speak without thought or feeling-not caring who they hurt. They speak of things that they no nothing about-its ridiculous and sad, and I am so sorry 4 how peoples hurtful words have added to your pain. I want you to know that your family, as well as Destineys family, are always, and will forever be in my heart and prayers. May God comfort you and I pray that you find peace in knowing that both of these beautiful children are loved by so many-i was there the day of the accident-w both of them-and I truley love them both. God has two perfect, beautiful angels in heaven with him now.
If you're extremely familiar with the case, you wouldn't be guessing yourself whether or not they wore seat belts (I guess the insurance company might like to know this - and it can be sussed out by witness marks on the belt web and D-Ring. "Facts"? Obviously, this is not your field of expertise, either.
As far as empathy, I believe it is time to be concerned with protecting the rights of those minors who still have a chance to become adults by refuting your ill-conceived notions and gossip regarding automotive safety and insisting on the obvious - buckle up and make sure everyone else in your car does the same. I wish we could have taught this simple lesson to the grannie with 3 unbelted children, all of whom died on 29N a few years ago. I can believe the family is in tears, don't you think I know that?
The self reliant among us understand that we have a lot more control over what happens to us in life than most people are comfortable taking responsibility for.
There was an explosion in R'Ville tonight. If the press accounts are accurate, an elderly guy caught a helicopter ride after smoking next to his oxygen bottle - guess it was just "his time", huh?
Ha!
I know this family very well and the police officer in charge of this incident said that there was evidence of the kids wearing seatbelts because of their injuries. This is what the police officer told the family. Newspapers are notorious for running with their own ideas. These kids were smart. They always wore their seatbelts. The force of the impact and the way the van was hit, makes it VERY physically possible for them to be ejected. Don't point fingers and let these kids rest in peace.
In fact racecar drivers have TWO seatbealts on and have been ejected from the vehicle.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE,
EXCUSE ME.PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT THE HEAD INVESTIGATOR HAS DETERMINED SEATBELTS WERE PROBABLY WORN. IN EITHER CASE ARE U PERFECT OR I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS A REALIST. THE WORD OF NAIVE APOLOGECIC-DEFEATED ATTITUDE FAR FROM DESCRIBE MYSELF i CARE ABOUT PEOPLE ESPECIALLY SINCE I KNOW THIS FAMILY WELL DO YOU. THE GRANDMOTHER WHO SURVIVED HAS ENOUGH TO ENDURE HOPEFULLY SHE WILL NEVER SEE THIS AND REALIZE HOW MAY IDIOTS CAN COMMENT ON ISSUES THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOPEFULLY YOU FAMILY OR LOVED ONES NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ANY SUCH ACCIDENT BUT I GUESS YOU WONT YOUR PERFECT IN A PERFECT WORLD.WHICH I WISH WE ALL LIVED IN MIMES NOT PERFECT BUT MY HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE HOPE YOUR FINDS IT WAY THERE.WHERES YOU FAITH NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE ANYONE EVERYONES NOT PERFECT.
GO AUNT TRACY YOUR RIGHT AT LEAST YOU PUT YPUR REAL NAME SOME HIDE BEHIND LETTERS WORDS THAT COME FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS NOTHING OF THE SITUATION WHERES THERE COMPASSION AND FAITH FOR THOSE KIDS AND THERE FAMILIES.MAYBE THEY NEED TO READ SOME STATICS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED OR DIED FROM A SEATBELT RESTRAING THEM FROM ESCAPING OR DAMIGING EVIDENCE ON A PERSONS BODY CAUSED BY A SEATBELT.
DeeMan-
you are the one who has no common sense comment stuff about the reck that you dont know for a fact. and if you knew the family they always wore seatbelts. and many car recks people have had their selts on and still got ejected from the vehicles, it might not say that they werent wearen sltbelts but the poilce said that from the marks on their bodys they were. so you need to stop commenting things you dont know for a fact because you writen all this stuff is wrong and it should be said!
Destiny was my best friend. our teachers weren't even going to tell us about her. That's a very sad way to die. she was the coolieest!!! miss you destiny and luv ya!!!!!!
the note above this is froom destineys friend not the other cc on here.
I was at the scene of the accident,was one of the very first to stop on that terribly sad Saturday morning. I went straight to Destineys side, and crouched down beside this beautiful little girl, and held her hand tightly,loved and comforted her while she went home to heaven. It was a life changing experience, and I thank God every day that I was able to be there with her, and for her in her last moments of life, to comfort, love and hold her. I was also there with
Joshua until the ambulance took this sweet young man away. I think we should all focus on celebrating the lives of these two beautiful young people, and honor their memories by being there for their families, and friends every minute of every day, and constantly praying for them. Destiney and Joshua will both live in my heart forever, I truley love them both. God bless their family and friends always.
Un-belted?
Un-believable!
The ignorance of some people is astounding - does anyone really believe that not wearing seat belts is O.K.? NEVER let anyone else ride unrestrained in your car; in a crash, they can become projectiles and kill you, even if you might have survived with the benefit of airbags and seatbelts yourself. It is a shame minors were killed - we are supposed to look out for their welfare.
People get thrown from cars, but they do not land softly upon the grass.
There's another, very disturbing video, produced as an ad, showing young friends out for a lark and the cool boyfriend doesn't buckle up and he bounces around the car, butting heads and damaging his friends. It looks real, and it's not for the faint of heart, so I won't link it. Another, with an onboard camera shows an unrestrained driver who falls asleep, wrecks, and goes out the back window. Unrestrained in the back of a pickup can get ugly real fast too.
It should be common sense, but it is not.
I'm from California and we always buckled up if when you got in a car, front seat back seat it didn't matter you just buckled up. When I came here to Virginia, friends would tell me "here in Virginia you don't need to buckle up if you are in the back seat". It always struck me odd that people have that mentality. I buckle up when I get in a car period!
Destiney and Josh, love you both so very very much, will miss you forever. Nothing will ever be the same without you,I miss you every minute of everyday,your our guardian angels now, and will alwayz be with us-love you forever&ever!
"In fact racecar drivers have TWO seatbealts on and have been ejected from the vehicle." - CC
I have friends that work on NASCAR teams, and have follow that sport for over 20 years. I have read numerous books about the history of racing. I have never come across a story, or heard any rumors, about drivers being ejected from their cars. Please, seeing as you brought it up, could you direct me to the source of your statement? I can't for the life of me believe you are telling people that they MIGHT be ok without a seatbelt. Maybe you should drive around with your finger on the belt release button. When you are about to get into an accident, you'll have about 0.02 seconds to determine whether the belt would help or cause you some injury. Good luck.
"THE GRANDMOTHER WHO SURVIVED HAS ENOUGH TO ENDURE HOPEFULLY SHE WILL NEVER SEE THIS AND REALIZE HOW MAY IDIOTS CAN COMMENT ON ISSUES THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOPEFULLY YOU FAMILY OR LOVED ONES NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ANY SUCH ACCIDENT BUT I GUESS YOU WONT YOUR PERFECT IN A PERFECT WORLD." - Donna (or is it DONNA!)
Honestly, I hope this Grandmother, that by all accounts killed her Grandkids because she was ignorant, suffers for the rest of her life. If I killed three people I was in charge of because of something idiotic I did, I would expect to suffer. As far as some of us being perfect,...please. We aren't perfect. We just use facts and common sense as guides in our lives. When we make mistakes, we know why and correct them (we also don't blame others,...or make many mistakes). If people die because they were bungee jumping, parasailing, or driving around carelessly without their seatbelts, it's not because Jesus wanted them to come HOME, it's because they were reckless and stupid (not a good combination). I think 'Day and Age' is 100% correct. People need to buck up and admit when they screw up.
To " In this day and age!"
I pity your lack of empathy for the family who lost two members.
As I am someone extremely familiar with this case it is a shame that you are so naiive to believe every word released by the news. There is NO proof that the minor passengers were NOT wearing their seatbelts when this accident occured. It is very possible that they were indeed "buckled up" and the force of the impact caused them to be thrown into the side windows. IN FACT, the pressure of the seatbelt in the abdomen caused one of these victims to suffocate in their own vomit.
There are many documented cases where seat belts have been the cause of several deaths in car accident cases. If the victims had not been wearing their seatbelts, they could have very well survived.
I highly suggest you stop relying on misinformed news. As far as "defeatist attitudes" The ONLY guarantee in life is death. It is something we must all accept.
To the families who lost these young family members, I offer my condolences.
when our time comes, it comes? Sometimes seatbelts hurt more than help?
Baloney! You just proved my point. Ignorance and hearsay, unfounded in fact. Don't apologize for anyone that doesn't make sure everyone in the vehilce is properly restrained. A 13 year old is not likely to be ejected if wearing seatbelts. The report says they were not, and the police, themselves, have issued a plea for people to buckle up. Tripos in helicopters to the emergency room are not cheap and may be avoided by practicing safe habits.
Sometimes, your time comes for your own damned carelessness, not because it's "your time" what a naiive, apologist and defeatist attitude!
You idiots are not getting the point. THEY HAD THEIR SEATBELTS ON. Plain and simple. "Honestly, I hope this Grandmother, that by all accounts killed her Grandkids because she was ignorant, suffers for the rest of her life. " I hope when the real story becomes public you can't sleep at night. Jo is a wonderful woman and would have given her own life to save those kids.
Here is a fact for you, DF (from NHTSA); Only one percent of all people ejected from their cars had on a set belt at the time of the crash.
So you're telling me that BOTH of these kids had their seatbelts on, and yet BOTH were still ejected? Do you have any idea how unlikely that is? It is far more likely they were not belted at the time of the accident, as the police on the scene stated many, many times.
Another fun fact: From 1975 to 2006, seat belts have saved the lives of 226,567 people.
Almost a quarter of a million people. That is about three times the population of Albemarle County.
I've proven my statements to be true, now it's your turn. Direct me to something that proves these kids had their belts on, other than 'he said, she said', and I'll apologize to everyone on here. Oh, the word 'wrecks' has a 'W' in it.
ok deeman. if you could see the marks on the bodies you could tell that they were wearingsaet belts and if you look on diffent news pages they said they were wearing seat belts!and police officer in charge of the incident said that there is evidence of the kids wearing seatbelts because of their injuries. This is what the police officer told the family.
and who cares if i spelled wreck wrong it not like it matters yall knew what i was talking about didnt you? and you might think you statement is true to your point of view but not all of ours!
and they were wearing their seatbelts so i guess they were that 1 percent!
who cares what you think anyways?.because every1 else knw that that family was wearing sealtbelts and they aren't stupid!
and Jo didnt make a stupid mistake because they all were wearing seatbelts.its not her fault the car went off the road and they got th ejected.she cant help it.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU COMMENT BACK!
In this day and age needs to shut there mouth yet the seat they were sitting in was thrown form th car as well so get ur stuff str8 i kno both the kids every time i have ever been in a car with them they worr a seat belt so ge tur facts straight plus the investigator also said seat belts were worn. and listen to all the injurys yeah they deff had to be wearing seat belts and if not they would of been shredded to piece
Rest in peace Destiny and josh
ppl are so stupis i have known these kids for a long time. They were good kids and we shouldnt be blaming anyone. just praying for there familes. there were amny factors to these accident and wearing a seat belt they were i have seen the marks fromt the accidnet. and trust me weather or not wearing a seat belt when thwe whole back seat comes out yeah dont really matter so stop blaming jo ann or who ever god needed them and now there watching over us in heaven so chill out and stop pointing fingers
I would like to thank the people with all their support and thoughts and prayers as our families still need them. To the media i would like to say that you need to get the facts straight with the kids they were wearing their seat belts and thats a fact. I am a aunt of one of the victims and they were belted in like my brother and linda said they have the marks to prove that they were. And to the others who make the dumbs comments you should be ashamed of yourselves them kids were wearing seat belts and it doesnt take much of in pact to brake. People should keep their mouths shut where they dont belong saying things they dnt know what their talking about. THANK YOU!!!!
LOVE YOU DESTINEY AND JOSHUA!!!!
To all the family and friends of Destiney and Joshua, you are and will always be in my thoughts and prayers, may God hold you tightly in his arms and comfort you. So many people loved your kids on that day-and always will.May these beautiful children rest in peace.Heaven is even a more perfect place now, and God smiles as Destiney and Joshua stand as perfect angels at his side.They are so loved, and will forever live in the hearts of all those who loved them.
May God hold you tightly in his arms and comfort you. So many people loved your kids on that day-and always will.May these beautiful children rest in peace.Heaven is even a more perfect place now, and God smiles as Destiney and Joshua stand as perfect angels at his side.They are so loved, and will forever live in the hearts of all those who loved them.
I am the mother of the 13 yr. old girl that died. I want to thank everybody that has been so supportive for the loss of my daughter and her best friend. I greatly appreciate it.
This is for DeeMan and everybody else leaving ignorant messages. For your information my daughter was wearing her seatbelt as well as her best friend. I taught my daughter as she was growing up to always wear her seatbelt every time she got into a vehicle as well as her best friend. As for my mother she is not ignorant she made sure those kids had there seatbelt on everytime they got into her vehicle. Yes people can be ejected from a vehicle even though they have there seatbelts on. So you need to get your facts straight before you start implicating people. A little fact for you. Our lawyer has found significante evidence that both kids was wearing there seatbelts. So before you start convicting people of stuff you know nothing about make sure you get all of your facts straight.
To Linda and the Woolmer family, Goldie and all of Destineys family- sooo many people loved your beautiful children, and their memories will live on in hearts and minds forever.All of you are constantly thought about, and prayed for. May God bless you and your familys always.The soul NEVER dies, and Destiney and Joshua are together and will be waiting for you one day at heavens gates. Love you all so much.
To Destiney and Josh- you may be gone from us for now, but we will all be together again one day in Heaven. You both continue to live in the hearts of all those who love you, and always will. You are gone, but never ever forgotten!