Five people taken to the hospital following two-car accident on Route 20

Posted by Howard Owens on September 22, 2009 - 8:55am

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Five people were injured -- including all members of a family of four from Bear, Delaware -- in a two-vehicle accident on Route 20 in the Town of Bethany at 9:04 p.m. on Monday.

The accident was allegedly caused by a driver pulling onto Route 20 who failed to yield the right-of-way.

Taken to Strong Memorial Hospital was: Quratul-Ain Abbasi, 29; Mansoor H. Khan, 40; Azan M. Kahn, 4; and Mira Kahn, 6.

Abbasi, the driver of the second vehicle, suffered an abdomenal injury, as did 6-year-old Mira. Both Mansoor Kahn and 4-year-old Azan sustained facial injuries.

The driver of the first vehicle was identified as Steven W. Clouse II, 19, of 12479 Allen Road, Chaffee. He was cited for alleged failure to yield right-of-way.

Clouse was reportedly pulling onto Route 20 from West Bethany Road. After stopping, he reportedly proceeded onto Route 20 when his 2000 Buick sedan was struck by Abbasi's car, a 1999 Chevy SUV.

The SUV then traveled off the southeast corner of the intersection, struck a street sign and a telephone box. The SUV then overturned and came to rest off the roadway on the southeast corner of the intersection.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Howard Owens
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Posted by Melissa George on September 22, 2009 - 9:46am

I live that way and have cross Rt. 20 from Molasses Hill to West Bethany and vice versa every day.

That intersection is really dangerous...it is no different then the one down the road at East/Rt. 20, but they have the blinking light.

I am really surprised there are not more accidents at that intersection.

Posted by Doug Yeomans on September 22, 2009 - 11:51am

These intersections all share the same problems. Long straightaways on the cross roads before the lights. Every one of these intersections needs rumble strips to re-alert drivers to the intersection. I live directly north of suicide corners and have taken lots of pictures of accidents at that intersection.

Melissa, this accident happened when the driver failed to yield the right of way after stopping at the intersection. I went through that intersection an hour and a half before the accident on my motorcycle, in the rain. I could see any oncoming traffic on Rt 20 without any difficulty. The driver of car #1 was obviously daydreaming or the driver of car #2 didn't have their headlights on, or both.

Posted by Mardell Lamb on September 22, 2009 - 12:23pm

Isn't there some sort of dip on Rt.20 where that intersection is? (I'm trying to remember.) Seems like it's hard to see if a vehicle is coming (if it's traveling West to East.) I could be totally wrong.

Posted by Doug Yeomans on September 22, 2009 - 1:24pm

There's a rise to the west of the intersection but there's plenty of time to see vehicles when they come over it.

Posted by Mardell Lamb on September 22, 2009 - 5:47pm

Thanks Doug. I don't travel that way too often, but it seems to have stuck in my mind.

Posted by Melissa George on September 22, 2009 - 7:13pm

seeing traffic in broad daylight coming from the west is hard...hit the brakes many times when you think its clear and a speeding car comes over the hill.

seeing traffic from the west at night much easier when cars have headlights on.

i was just saying i'm surprised in all the years of living that way I haven't seen more accidents..

Posted by Doug Yeomans on September 23, 2009 - 9:36am

In an intersection like this one where you can see far down the road in one direction, you look that way and know that nothing can come that way for 15 or 20 seconds. You then look to the other side and watch it as you proceed through. It's not difficult and there's plenty of time unless you have really slow..slow..turtle slow reaction time. In that case you probably shouldn't be driving anyway.

Suicide corners at East Rd and Rt 20 is the same way. Most of the accidents there happened because someone ran the intersection. I've been going through there at all times of the day and night for over 6 years now and I've never even had a close call. Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention. (One of my favorite saying from Bear Swenson on ice road truckers)

Posted by Josh Konieczny on September 23, 2009 - 4:53pm

Hey Howard, this is the one I told you about, right?

Posted by nick driscoll on September 23, 2009 - 5:25pm

way to get your name in there josh great reporting

Posted by Howard Owens on September 23, 2009 - 5:45pm

It is.