DC - Ashley Turton, 37, lobbyist, found dead in burning car, 10 Jan 2011

[Missizzy]

I haven't this fact before:

"...The day before the accident, BW and the aide’s wife Ashley Turton were planning to collaborate on a foundation to help her younger brother and his brain injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, she will not be able to see it through...."

How tragic. Ms. Turton's family has experienced unimaginable grief.

 

[Coolmomof4]

Wonder when the autopsy is scheduled for.

already done, waiting on toxicology.

 

[Gibson]

This case has been nagging at me all week - I live not far away. Over and over I've watched video and looked at photos. I'm a visitor but this seemed a good place to air a few theories...

One thing I haven't heard discussed is that the (husband's?) Maxima was parked partially blocking the driveway and the path of the X5. Garbage cans lined up in front of the Maxima seemed in turn to block him from pulling up like he normally would. No question that Maxima was blocking the way.

She didn't want to wake her husband or trouble with moving both cars, plane to catch y'know, her client merging that morning (how odd is that?).

So she had to try and maneuver around the Maxima. But the garage being narrow and the BMW rather huge, doesn't seem possible for her to back out. (I know my wife has trouble backing out of our garage while executing a turn)

Perhaps the X5 scraped the garage all or a work bench on the right side. Might have been some LPG tank or something damaged? And that garage had all kinds of flamable stuff piled about for kindling.

This is where I got stumped -- why didn't she just exit the drivers side which was clear of impact and fire?

(And this is where Songline's thought bailed me out!) She probably feared for her family's safety and kept working at it too long trying to move the car out. It was jammed there against the wall. Then the smoke tragically overcame her.

Now how those DC fire fighters avoided glancing into the car, still running and obviously askew sticking out the garage -- that is beyond me. Right next to the guy with the hose, another 2 dressed in full gear casually picking their noses. Why didn't her husband run out to tell them when he heard the garage and BMW were on fire? Dunno.

Anyway thanks for listening.

Gibson

 

[Soulmagent]

Welcome!!!

 

[Missizzy]

Welcome, Gibson. Some very interesting observations. Great first post.

I would add that many people have trouble backing up while executing a turn. My winding river rock rimmed driveway can attest to that fact.

Welcome to WS.

 

[Gozgals]

Welcome Gibson.

Goz

 

[newone]

Many years ago when I had to leave on biz before crack of dawn hubby and I would have at least a cup of coffee together before I left for airport -- the fact that hubby in Turton case seemed oblivious sent a flare in the sky for me.

 

[Soulmagent]

Many years ago when I had to leave on biz before crack of dawn hubby and I would have at least a cup of coffee together before I left for airport -- the fact that hubby in Turton case seemed oblivious sent a flare in the sky for me.

I wouldnt wake my hubby up . He doesnt drink coffee and neither him or I are morning people. I am a heavy sleeper as well so I could sleep arround all kinda of events and have. I grew up next to RR tracks and alarm clocks never work for me.

Once I missed a runaway cow getting towed out of my front yard(road) after it got hit . I wish they have woke me up for that. They had to use a rollback. I heard.

 

[newone]

I wouldnt wake my hubby up . He doesnt drink coffee and neither him or I are morning people. I am a heavy sleeper as well so I could sleep arround all kinda of events and have. I grew up next to RR tracks and alarm clocks never work for me.

Once I missed a runaway cow getting towed out of my front yard(road) after it got hit . I wish they have woke me up for that. They had to use a rollback. I heard.

I hear ya! I believe in letting sleepers sleep but in this case given that there was ''tight'' parking, I would have thought (we don't know about the owner of the ''other'' car in the driveway) that hubby might have ensured that wife had a clear run out of the driveway -- assuming that other vehicle was his. I just know my late hubby would have been up for me given that I was leaving super early in the a.m.Most guys I know would accompany their wives at that earlier hour at least to the garage to make sure she was ok. If I am so ''out of touch '' I want to hear about it. Most guys I know would definitely be making sure that she got to the car ''ok''.

 

[BrownRice]

Maybe the Maxima had been moved by LE (or someone else) to get better access to the BMW? Had to laugh at the comment about the previous poster's comment regarding his wife and parking in the garage. I had to call my husband the other night (from my car) so he could come out to our detached garage because my van was stuck. I couldn't maneuver the turn/angle. He had to take over. Not uncommon I see.

I don't find anything odd about not waking DH at that early hour. I wouldn't either. I'd be as quiet as possible.

 

[Gozgals]

Memorial service to be held this afternoon.
R.I.P.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/ashley-turton-former-hill-staf.html

 

[Quad]

Nothing odd to me about the hubby not getting up. Thats how it would of been here in my household.

 

[dgfred]

Heck, my daughter struck my wife's vehicle when backing out of the garage. :crazy:

 

[hockeymom]

Heck, my daughter struck my wife's vehicle when backing out of the garage. :crazy:

I'm the worst backer upper on the planet. I've knocked off two side mirrors. Hit the garbage cans several times,scraped the side of my car numerous times,and the worst was in a 3 car garage with no other cars in the garage,I ended up diagonal in the garage. My neighbor had to come over and get me out of the garage. I'm the running joke in my family.
For the record,my husband wouldn't necessarily have gotten up with me, but would have definitley woken up to say goodbye.

 

[dgfred]

Ha, ha. :floorlaugh:

My daugher (20 now) has backed into my wife's car, backed into the phone box and mangled it, hit a boy in the school parking lot (tore up guy's car), and totaled a car on a straight road by going in the ditch (she wasn't hurt)...

We punished her on the total loss by getting her the same kind of car (Volk Jetta), but a NEWER model :waitasec: .

Y'all might be related.

 

[Coolmomof4]

Has anyone found it the memorial service will be live online since it is a public service?

 

[Valleyboy]

I'm the worst backer upper on the planet. I've knocked off two side mirrors. Hit the garbage cans several times,scraped the side of my car numerous times,and the worst was in a 3 car garage with no other cars in the garage,I ended up diagonal in the garage. My neighbor had to come over and get me out of the garage. I'm the running joke in my family.
For the record,my husband wouldn't necessarily have gotten up with me, but would have definitley woken up to say goodbye.

Do you actually have a drivers licence....LOL

 

[newone]

Has anyone found it the memorial service will be live online since it is a public service?

I haven't found anything that indicates it will be ''online'' ....

 

[hockeymom]

Do you actually have a drivers licence....LOL

LOL! I drive forward very well!

 

[tiredblondy]

Ok I have to chime in here. My driver's instructor told me I would make a great driver going in reverse but not forward!!! Apparently I'm a great backer and reverse was my strength.

However I overcame it and have a good driving record.
I think the backing up ability came from driving farm equipment.


I have tried to find something on the memorial service today and there is nothing on today's service.