Innovations in “fracking” processes have driven Texas’ ongoing oil boom. Fracking refers to methods of injecting chemical-laden water into shale deposits that lie far below ground level – this forces oil and natural gas to the surface where companies can process and sell it. While fracking has had some economic benefits for Texas and the…
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On Monday, Carolyn Beck, a spokeswoman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), confirmed that the TABC is investigating a nightclub where Dallas Cowboys football players may have been drinking before the one-vehicle car accident in which Cowboys player Jerry Brown Jr. died. The accident occurred early Saturday morning when a vehicle in which Brown…
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In another safety related recall, Ford Motor Company is recalling over 73,000 Ford Escape compact sport-utility vehicles, as well as over 15,000 Ford Fusion midsize sedans. This recall involves the 2013 model year and it is reported that these vehicles can have overheating problems that causes engine fires. This recall closely follows Ford’s recall of…
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According to figures compiled by the Associated Press, deaths at railroad crossings in Texas have doubled in the last year, renewing questions about whether the thousands of miles of track in the state are being safely maintained and monitored. The spike in fatalities comes after a four-year period of lowered death tolls in Texas and…
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While numerous hazards surround workers in the oil and gas industry, a large construction accident this week served as a reminder that the kinds of heavy machinery involved in this industry are inherently dangerous from the very beginning. Eighty-nine workers at a construction yard in Singapore suffered injuries when a jack-up rig partially collapsed underneath…
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After a shuttle bus crashed into Houston’s Texas Medical Center last week, police announced that the accident may have happened because the driver suffered a “medical episode.” One woman died and 11 other people suffered injuries, raising questions about who bears liability when a medical problem plays a role in a crash. Houston police officials…
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Jovan Belcher, an inside linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, recently killed his girlfriend and later killed himself in front of the general manager and the coach of the Chiefs. Many of the people close to Belcher were shocked by his recent actions and had not noticed any previous behavior which would indicate…
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“Black boxes,” commonly known as electronic data recorders (EDRs) or electronic on-board recording devices (EOBRs), are capable of recording and keeping safe all data regarding the events surrounding an automobile crash, including seatbelt use, vehicle speed before the crash, deceleration rates, and vehicle trajectory before, during, and after the crash. In 18-wheelers, they also have…
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