IN - Driver following GPS drives off demolished bridge, wife killed

  • #41
Seems to me it could be a murder-suicide gone wrong.

Even if the barricades were removed, how does somebody drive on this in broad daylight? There are weeds growing in the middle of the road. That should have been a clue that something was wrong.

CgkjHSd.jpg
 
  • #42
Ppl are free to say any potential answer, theory, or poster they do not personally agree w are "silly."
ATM w MSM info I've seen to date, I tend to agree accident, specifically
"freak accident by someone who was relying on dated technology," is likely the manner of her death.

My point - my theories, as well as others' theories here generally, are formed w very thin data in cases like this.
Little or no info about couple - except man & wife, marital status, & ages.
Nothing about health, driving habits, finances, their relationship w each other; friends, enemies, offspring if any.

W a vehicle incident like this (just hypothetical, not re this couple) if I learned -
- man & woman's marriage had been a relentless battleground from day 1 to 25 yrs later, ~monthly 911 calls for dom vio.
- chronic financial instability, bankruptcy in past, cars repossessed last month.
- drifting in & out of jobs a couple times a year, w stints of unemployment.
- extramarital affairs by both, some spanning years, plus one night stands.
- alcoholism. other mental illnesses some diagnosed& treated, some not treated.
- auto ins cancellations, evictions from apts.
- criminal convictions for drug dealing, domestic violence w ea other, assaults on others, DWIs, arson.
* the week prior wife filed for divorce, for all their marital prop, and loads of alimony.
* the week prior man submitted application for $2,000,000 life insurance for wife,
I def w/consider theories other than accident. Others are free to dismiss those theories & stick w accident.
Not saying all ^are likely to be present in any one couple, but presence of even a few might lead to non-accident answer.

IIRC, in this case police investigator quoted in link gave interview same day as car plunge,
so I doubt if he had a chance to get all the 'surface' info, let alone to drill down further & uncover 'dirt' (if any).
Even if suspicious info - like ^**^ were uncovered, I w/not expect that to surface in MSM, at least not now.
IOW, we don't know what we don't know, until we have further info.
JM2cts.

There is no way this was a premeditated event because the driver had no way of knowing the barricades would be moved.

JMO
 
  • #43
There is a definitive answer. What some seem to be ignoring is the fact that the wife didn't die as a result of the plunge off the bridge, she died of burns when the car burst into flame. That is not something that the driver could have anticipated. I think it is silly to suggest this was anything but a freak accident by someone who was relying on dated technology.

JMO

The couple appears to have been on their way to visit family since they had food in the vehicle, a police investigator said. They were from Chicago and were likely unfamiliar with the area.

The driver was believed to have been following GPS navigation that told him to continue on Cline Avenue, and was apparently paying more attention to the navigation system than what was in front of him, according to a police investigator.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_cbd32cd1-bb19-5adb-83a9-ee1e09bd4592.html
BBM

Therein lies the answer. They were unfamiliar with the area, and likely didn't know weeds growing in the cement weren't the norm for the road as the entire area is far from appealing. Nor did they probably decide to try to kill themselves enroute to visiting family. Not every tragedy is a conspiracy.

Prayers for the husband and for the family and may Mrs. Hussain rest in peace.
:rose:
 
  • #44
Maybe I'm missing something, but how could the husband know they both wouldn't be killed if this was pre-meditated? I think this is a really tragic and unfortunate accident.


BTW, I can see how 61 or 64 might seem elderly to someone in their 20's. The closer I get, the less elderly I seem to feel. :)
 
  • #45
Maybe I'm missing something, but how could the husband know they both wouldn't be killed if this was pre-meditated? I think this is a really tragic and unfortunate accident.


BTW, I can see how 61 or 64 might seem elderly to someone in their 20's. The closer I get, the less elderly I seem to feel. :)

My reference to being elderly was actually a reference to their eyesight and reflexes. The news reports said they were watching the GPS. Those screens are pretty small. Things like eyesight and reflexes are affected by age.

JMO
 
  • #46
There is no way this was a premeditated event because
the driver had no way of knowing the barricades would be moved. JMO

Just a fleeting thought and def'ly not saying this was the case w this couple:
-is it poss a person premeditating a death might do drive-arounds, specifically looking for the right place to do it?
Is it poss that he was aware of derelict bridge & the moved barricade ahead of time? Had bn there the day before?
Is it poss that was Plan A, but if barricade had bn moved back into place, he would think up Plan B later?
Just saying, in the face of such thin info, genly I'm open to considering non-accident theories.
But as I said earlier, I tend to think accident is iikely.

IIRC, either IN highway dept staffer or trooper said there is (should be?) a weekly check of these barricades,
and it appeared one of the concrete barricades was moved, when it was checked after the plunge.

JM2cts. IDK what happened.
 
  • #47
My reference to being elderly was actually a reference to their eyesight and reflexes. The news reports said they were watching the GPS. Those screens are pretty small. Things like eyesight and reflexes are affected by age.JMO

Your point about eyesight & GPS screen-size is a good one. One I most certainly overlooked.

Esp if one or both were wearing bifocals & trying to read dinky screen, that could contribute to getting lost/misinterp.
 
  • #48
Just a fleeting thought and def'ly not saying this was the case w this couple:
-is it poss a person premeditating a death might do drive-arounds, specifically looking for the right place to do it?
Is it poss that he was aware of derelict bridge & the moved barricade ahead of time? Had bn there the day before?
Is it poss that was Plan A, but if barricade had bn moved back into place, he would think up Plan B later?
Just saying, in the face of such thin info, genly I'm open to considering non-accident theories.
But as I said earlier, I tend to think accident is iikely.

IIRC, either IN highway dept staffer or trooper said there is (should be?) a weekly check of these barricades,
and it appeared one of the concrete barricades was moved, when it was checked after the plunge.

JM2cts. IDK what happened.

The Sheriff's dept. is continuing to investigate. I seriously doubt the man moved the barricade himself or stole the warning sign or is in any way involved other than as victim of a vicious, deadly prank.

JMO

Deitchley said he didn't have information about whether the barricade sign and concrete barrier were moved by hand or with a vehicle.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department is investigating, he said.

"The concrete barriers are heavy. They are heavy, and it would be difficult to move them by hand," he said.

Deitchley didn't have information on exactly when the last time the barricades and barriers on Cline Avenue were checked. They were in the proper position the last time they were checked, he said.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_e69bc918-3e96-5094-aa57-e7a81c0d3e27.html
 
  • #49
BBM.... Nor did they probably decide to try to kill themselves enroute to visiting family.
Not every tragedy is a conspiracy.
Prayers for the husband and for the family and may Mrs. Hussain rest in peace.
:rose:
bbm sbm

Agreed.
 
  • #50
The Sheriff's dept. is continuing to investigate. I seriously doubt the man moved the barricade himself or stole the warning sign or is in any way involved other than as victim of a vicious, deadly prank.
JMO
Deitchley said he didn't have information about whether the barricade sign and concrete barrier were moved by hand or with a vehicle.
The Lake County Sheriff's Department is investigating, he said.
"The concrete barriers are heavy. They are heavy, and it would be difficult to move them by hand," he said.
Deitchley didn't have information onexactly when the last time the barricades and barriers on Cline Avenue were checked. They were in the proper position the last time they were checked, he said.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_e69bc918-3e96-5094-aa57-e7a81c0d3e27.html

From above link:
"Indiana Department of Transportation crews check the barricade signs and barriers in theeastbound lanes leading up to the demolished Cline Avenue Bridge at least once a week to ensure they're properly placed, the road closure is clearly posted and vehicles cannot travel on the road, agency spokesman Matt Deitchley said." bbm

Confusing wording. Same spokesman. Is he talking about checks on two different places?

ETA: Re: "I seriously doubt the man moved the barricade himself ..."
Agreed, doubtful, imo.
 
  • #51
Seems to me it could be a murder-suicide gone wrong.

Even if the barricades were removed, how does somebody drive on this in broad daylight? There are weeds growing in the middle of the road. That should have been a clue that something was wrong.

CgkjHSd.jpg

Interesting in the photo ^^ - see the car on the other side of road - wow, so only one side was closed, then? If they saw a car like in the photo, and if barricade(s) down, could be easily fooled into driving... :scared: I might actually...
We have some roads here in NJ around Newark that look like this, without barricades....
 
  • #52
Old Steve
re KaaBoom's pix copied in your post
Agreed, if a driver now on this road, saw car in opposite-direction lanes, like in above pix,
then driver (maybe) would not think he was on abandoned highway or was actually demolished ahead.

I think that^ is not a current pix, because of this --
Sept 2012 pix from http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/l...e09bd4592.html
from article: "demolished Cline Avenue bridge, which has been closed since 2009." Drop of 37.5 feet.

55172fe4224e8.preview-620.jpg
.
If this pix was from 2012, seems our driver would not have seen a car in other lanes
unless IN-DOT vehicle, or unless opposite lanes-bridge had been rebuilt since 2012 pix.

This pic is skeeeery.
 
  • #53
Lake County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Patricia Van Til says the road is clearly marked with numerous barricades including orange barrels and cones, large wood signs stating 'Road Closed' with orange striped markings and concrete barriers across the road.

Investigators suspect the 64-year-old motorist was following GPS directions when he bypassed several barricades blocking the road and ultimately drove his 2014 Nissan Sentra off the bridge.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...PS-didn-t-know-span-closed.html#ixzz3WVgRgswU
 
  • #54
Driver says he did see a car in the other lane here:

Green said he encountered at least one and perhaps two concrete barriers, but they were blocking only two of the three lanes on the road.

Green said he didn't recall seeing any signs saying the road is closed or that the bridge is out. He saw frozen tire tracks, he said.

"I saw a car coming the other way on the other side," he said. "I saw that and I thought, 'OK, the road must be open.' That sort of gave me the confidence to keep going," he said.

When he realized the road was ending, he slammed on the brakes, he said.

Green admitted he felt stupid following his close call, but he wanted to speak out to prevent anyone else from making the same mistake.
 
  • #55
Driver says he did see a car in the other lane here:

Wow! thanks for that - it really seems wrong to have a road like that where you might see cars on the other side. On the closed side they should have done more IMO.
 
  • #56
Wow! thanks for that - it really seems wrong to have a road like that where you might see cars on the other side. On the closed side they should have done more IMO.

It truly is mind-boggling considering the sheer volume of traffic and the confusing array of Interstates and expressways that intersect throughout that stretch of Chicagoland.

JMO
 
  • #57
Driver says he did see a car in the other lane here:
"Green said he encountered at least one and perhaps two concrete barriers,
but they were blocking only two of the three lanes on the road.
Green said he didn't recall seeing any signs saying the road is closed or that the bridge is out.
He saw frozen tire tracks, he said.
"I saw a
car coming the other way on the other side," he said. "I saw that and I thought, 'OK, the road must be open.' That sort of gave me the confidence to keep going," he said.
When he realized the road was ending, he slammed on the brakes, he said.
Green admitted he felt stupid following his close call, but he wanted to speak out to prevent anyone else from making the same mistake."

Omitted from above quote:
"Green, who is not familiar with the area and decided to take Cline Avenue after looking at a map, said
he was able to drive around concrete barriers after entering eastbound Cline Avenue from the Indiana Toll Road." bbm

- How many frozen tire tracks could there have been? Did he see 1 set? 2 sets? dozens?
- A car came from the other way? One?
- No cars visible in his direction, just frozen tracks.
- Before or after driving around concrete barriers?

^ Any one of these = clue about highway not in use?
Collectively = a lesson we can all learn from.

Glad Mr. Green spoke about his close call and it was just that, a close call, no injury or fatality.
 
  • #58
It truly is mind-boggling considering the sheer volume of traffic and the confusing array of Interstates and expressways that intersect throughout that stretch of Chicagoland.JMO
bbm

MyBelle
Another good point you raise about the area:
a big tangle of cloverleaf interchanges, loops, diamond interchanges, elevated highways, like big pile of knotted-up pasta.

Mind-boggling is an excellent description.
 
  • #59
My GPS in my Mercedes is 5 years old and Mercedes is putting out the updated GPS CDs in 2016. They cost $250.00 and I will get them. I didn't realize that the maps were updated so infrequently. There have been a few times when the GPS has directed me into a body of water or to a road that wasn't there. For this reason, I take my IPad and have the GPS on my phone going, just in case.

So sorry for this couple and their loved ones. Really tragic. IMO
 
  • #60
Wow! thanks for that - it really seems wrong to have a road like that where you might see cars on the other side. On the closed side they should have done more IMO.

Why? Lots of times I see a road that is closed in one direction, but open the other. That doesn't make me want to drive around the barricades to see if it is really closed, or not. If the sign says "Road Closed", then I exit and follow the detour route. It's just unbelievable to me that anybody would do that. It's like people who drive around rail road crossing gates. It's pretty hard to stop a fool who wants to kill himself.
 

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