Dangerous Trailers Virtual Memorial United States

Britney Lipsey

2008-02-13T23:25:00.001-08:00

In Loving Memory of our Dream Girl - Britney Lipsey

2005-2006 Pi Kappa Alpha

*DreamGirl*

Britney Lipsey
January 19,1986 -- August 6,2006

Thank you for all of your hard work and support!

WE LOVE YOU!

The below articles are from The Greenville Herald Banner and The Dallas Morning News

Britney Lipsey

Britney Loren’ Lipsey, 20, of Celeste, formerly of Gladewater, died Aug. 6, 2006, in an auto accident on Interstate 30. Funeral services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Celeste High School gymnasium under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville. Dr. James Ralson will officiate. Burial will be in Celeste Cemetery.

Miss Lipsey was born Jan. 19, 1986, in Longview to Mike Lipsey and Jessica Walston Morrow. She graduated from Celeste High School in 2004.

Britney was the head lifeguard at the Ja-Lu Park in Greenville, she gave swimming lessons at the Rec Center in Commerce, she was a waitress at Molina’s in Commerce, and was a student at Texas A&M University-Commerce and was on the Dean’s List.

Her accomplishments included Miss CHS, Sophomore Class Favorite, Senior Football Sweetheart, FCA, FCCLA, and academic awards-accounting and geography.

She played basketball for four years and was senior captain and received junior and senior honorary mention and Defensive MVP, she ran track her sophomore and junior years and was regional qualifier both years, she played golf all through high school and was a regional qualifier her sophomore, junior and senior years and was state qualifier her junior year, golf MVP her senior year and Most Improved Player her junior year.

She was a cheerleader her junior and senior years and was on the dance team her sophomore year. Britney was a donor to save others lives.

She is survived by her father and wife, Mike and Carol Lipsey of Celeste; her mother and husband, Jessica and Johnny Morrow of Celeste; brothers Brody Lipsey and Braden Morrow of Celeste and Todd Eudy of Forney; a sister, Tina McDaniel of Forney; grandparents John and Allene Mize of Celeste and Jimmy and Jean Lipsey and Doris Walston, all of Greenville.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ernest Lorenzo Walston, Johnny Morrow, and Patricia House; great-grandparents Haskell and Pansey Biggs and Crim and Maurice Adams; a stepgrandmother, Oleta Lipsey; and an uncle, Tony Walston.

Pallbearers are John Mark Barnard, Josh Spoonemore, Joseph Louvier, Jonny Louvier, Rache Barnette, Lance Clayton, Shey Stegall, Neil McElaney. Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Pi-Kappa-Alpha Fraternity.

Memorials may be made to the Britney Lipsey Scholarship Fund at the First Bank of Celeste, Attention Bob Barnard, P.O. Box 7, Celeste, 75422.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Celeste High School gymnasium.

WE LOVE YOU!

The below articles are from The Greenville Herald Banner and The Dallas Morning News

A&M-Commerce students killed in I-30 wreck

By BRANDI HART

Herald-Banner Staff

ROYSE CITY — Two Texas A&M University-Commerce students died Sunday afternoon while driving in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 30 while returning to the college town after a South Texas vacation.

Rachel Rollings of Coffeyville, Kan., was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer in the outside eastbound lanes of Interstate 30, near the 78-mile marker just east of Farm-to-Market 35 when her SUV was struck head-on by a small trailer carrying a 2004 Chrysler Concord that was traveling in the westbound lanes of the highway, said Sgt. Bill Vegas of the Royse City Police Department.

Margot Alvarado, 51, of Michigan was driving a moving van that was pulling the Concorde, which became unattached from the van’s towing hitch.

“The trailer crossed the highway median and struck the Explorer’s left front fender. When the trailer made contact with the Explorer, the Explorer rolled over and came to rest in the median between the eastbound lanes of Interstate 30 and the south service road,” Vegas said.

Rollings, 22, died on impact and was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace for Precinct. 2 and 3 Larry Holloway. Britney Lipsey of Celeste, 20, who was asleep in the backseat of the Explorer was transported by helicopter ambulance LifeStar to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where she later died, Vegas said.

Rachel Ashley Bates, 19, of Commerce was the only survivor from the Explorer. She received some lacerations, Vegas said.

Bates was in the passenger seat of the Explorer and was transported by a Rockwall County Emergency Medical Services ambulance to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Vegas said. She was released before 10 a.m. Monday, he added.

Bates, Rollings and Lipsey were wearing their seatbelts, Vegas said.

Police are still investigating the accident and planned to recreate the accident this week to see if the trailer was properly attached to Alvarado’s van and to determine if Alvarado will receive any citations in the accident, Vegas said. Alvarado left the scene uninjured.

A Volkswagen Beetle that was traveling behind Rollings swerved to miss the collision and did not receive any damage, Vegas said. Interstate 30 was closed for three hours while law enforcement personnel worked the scene.

Lipsey’s funeral is at 10 a.m. Thursday at Celeste High School gymnasium. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the CHS gym. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home of Greenville is handling the services.

2 sorority sisters die in crash; 3rd injured

Trailer hit their SUV after coming loose, crossing I-30 median

10:57 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 8, 2006

By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News

Two Texas A&M University-Commerce students were killed and one was injured over the weekend when their SUV was hit by a trailer that came loose from a truck and crossed the Interstate 30 median just east of Royse City.

The women were returning to campus after a tubing trip, said university Police Chief Donna Spinato.

The survivor, identified as Rachel Ashley Bates, 18, of Commerce, was released Monday from Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, authorities said.

Flags at the university will fly at half-staff today in memory of Britney Lipsey, 20, of Celeste, in northern Hunt County, and Rachel Rollings, 22, of Coffeyville, Kan. Some were members of the Chi Omega sorority.

Chief Spinato said that the three were well-known at the school and that Ms. Rollings was a lifeguard at the university's recreation center.

"They were all very sweet girls," she said. "The university is saddened by the untimely deaths."

Ms. Lipsey's stepfather, Johnny Morrow, said he was struggling with his daughter's death in such a freak accident. He said Ms. Lipsey was a popular, athletic student at Celeste High School and was looking forward to a career in physical therapy.

"She played basketball, golf, was a cheerleader and homecoming queen," Mr. Morrow said. At the Commerce university, Ms. Lipsey was on the dean's list and was named a "dream girl" for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Though she was outgoing and independent, Ms. Lipsey still made time to call home every day.

"We had no issues. Zero. We did everything together," Mr. Morrow said.

He said Ms. Rollings was an exceptional young woman who was close friends with Ms. Lipsey and often visited Ms. Lipsey's home, about 30 minutes from campus.

Ms. Rollings' family could not be reached Monday.

Royse City police said the trailer, carrying a car, came loose from a westbound truck and crossed the median about 2 p.m., hitting the SUV carrying the women.

The SUV rolled and came to a stop on its roof on the right side of the highway between FM35 and FM2642.

Staff writer Holly Yan contributed to this report

Sean O'Shea

2008-02-13T23:12:00.001-08:00

Trailer Hitch Comes Loose, Kills Innocent Driver

Last Updated:
12-29-06 at 7:05PM

Improperly installed trailer hitches can claim lives, like the one that smashed into an SUV, killing Sean O'Shea in Sorrento Valley Thursday.

Family and friends describe 32-year-old Sean O'Shea as a compassionate soul and a successful La Jolla yoga instructor.

"Just real pleasant, soft-spoken, kind… I'm so disappointed for his family," friend Mary Rhatigan said.

Thursday afternoon, Sean was driving southbound on Interstate 5 when a trailer hitch flew through his front windshield and killed him instantly. CHP investigators have three theories on how it happened. Perhaps another driver forgot to correctly fasten the hitch with its safety pin.

"Another theory is that it could have been part of a load, it could have been in the back of a truck with other items, or it could have been stationary in the road and hit by another vehicle with enough force to actually get it up off the ground and get it airborne," Brad Baehr of the CHP said.

Investigators say six inches in either direction, and the hitch would have missed O'Shea altogether. Instead, a tragedy, and the CHP says it someone knows they're responsible for this, they need to step forward.

"Obviously, there is a fatality involved, there is a lot of liability," Baehr said. "It could go a multitude of directions, but I think it's safe to say straight across the board it truly was an accident."

A 26-year-old woman was in the SUV with O'Shea during the accident. She was not injured.

Rhonda Fromm

2008-02-08T05:42:00.001-08:00

In October, Fromm was driving along Route 287 in Tioga Township with her husband. State Police say a trailer unhitched from a dark colored pick-up truck. It struck Fromm’s car, flipping it upside down and sending into a guardrail. The lose trailer skidded to a stop, but the driver drove off. Rhonda Fromm died at the scene. Her husband survived with injuries.

Elaine Decker

2008-02-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Elaine was Director of the Diabetes Treatment Centers for area Bon Secours Hospitals. She was loved and respected by the medical staffs of the hospitals and by the patients she advised personally. She was a dedicated mom to her two children, Hilary and Zachary, a terrific aunt to my daughter Ashley, and a wonderful sister to me. Our 82 year old mother is heartbroken, and we are all devastated by our loss.

Elaine was killed when a homemade trailer detached from the pick up
that towed it. It struck a Cadillac traveling in lthe opposing lanes of traffic, fatally
injuring the driver

Cheryl Johnson

2008-02-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

June 2, 1952 — Nov. 28, 2007

Cheryl Johnson passed from us in the early morning of Nov. 28 from injuries sustained in a crash between her car and a runaway trailer. She was wife, mother, family member and friend.

Cheryl or Cheri, as she was known by family, friends and colleagues, was born June 2, 1952 to Constantine Dennis Orphan and Gloria Neuhaus Orphan in Harvey, Ill. Growing up, Cheri lived in Illinois, Maryland and California. Cheri joined Hewlett-Packard Company in 1972 and worked for the company for the next 35 years, 30 years at the Corvallis site including a one-year Foreign Service assignment in Singapore. Cheri had a strong work ethic and put her best into doing her job and everything else she did. She held many positions at Hewlett-Packard and was a devoted disciple of the “HP Way” Her life was an example of that principle, the basis of which is respecting people. There was a lot of job related travel at Hewlett-Packard and she liked personal travel. Cheri traveled all over Europe and visited Israel. She traveled throughout Asia and visited Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. She traveled to many destinations in the Unites States including Alaska and Hawaii.

Cheri believed in, liked, and respected people. She could see the good in everyone. Cheri recognized and acknowledged the good that each possesses. Others responded to this recognition of the positive in them and grew as a result. She accepted others as they are. Cheri saw the value of each individual and accepted people of all human kind. Her belief that everyone has something to contribute resonated with others and her positive attitude helped others do better. She was liked and admired by those who knew her and was an energetic inspiration to many.

She enjoyed being outside and loved the Oregon coast. She raised potted plants, indoors and outdoors. She loved birds and kept her bird feeders full year around. She was very kind, generous and giving. She was concerned about those in need and contributed to organizations that help them. She loved animals and contributed to several organizations that help endangered species. She was concerned about the environment and the effects altering it may have on humans, animals and plants and did what she could to help. She contributed to organizations whose goal is to help preserve our planet.

She was beloved and she will continue to be loved. Her memory will live on with all of us who knew her. She is and will continue to be greatly missed.

Cheri was preceded in death by her father and mother. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Bruce, and sons Carl and Ole; brothers Dennis Orphan of St. George, Utah, and Thomas Orphan of Corvallis; sister Patricia Engler of Bondurant, Wyo.; uncles Forrest Neuhaus of Maple Valley, Wash., and John Neuhaus of Sunnyvale, Calif.; aunts Caryl Fleming of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Beverly Thomas of New Canaan, Conn.; cousins, nephews and nieces.

There will be a celebration of life for Cheri at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at Church of the Nazarene in Corvallis. Memorial contributions may be made to National Wildlife Federation; Audubon Society; Nature Conservancy or Chintimini Wildlife Refuge in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330.

James H. Ingle, 44, of Preston

2008-01-11T05:48:00.001-08:00

The SUV that was pulling the trailer that came unhitched also was heading westbound, as were the other four vehicles involved in the crash.

Jonathan R. Orff, 19

2008-01-11T05:45:00.001-08:00

The Orffs were riding eastbound in a pickup, and Ingle was driving westbound in a car. The SUV that was pulling the trailer that came unhitched also was heading westbound, as were the other four vehicles involved in the crash.

Randall R. Orff, 47

2008-01-11T05:38:00.000-08:00

Spencer Morrison was 37; Alaina and Garret, on his lap, were 4. Ethan lived.

2008-01-11T05:32:00.000-08:00

Spencer Morrison was a stickler for safety. The middle-school teacher had precious cargo to protect -- his 4-year-old triplets, Ethan, Garret and Alaina. Only the best minivan and top-of-the-line car seats would do.

None of that mattered when a trailer -- a 3-ton wood-chipper on wheels -- broke loose from a truck and careened into oncoming traffic like an unguided missile on April 13, 2006.

Susan Philpott

2008-01-10T12:20:00.003-08:00

Susan Philpott | Died: June 29, 2001 Location: Niceville, Fla. Philpott, 34, was walking with her son, 3, and twin daughters, 1, when a trailer carrying concrete blocks broke loose, plowing into her; the children were unharmed. The driver was sentenced to three years in prison for negligent manslaughter.

Robin Teller

2008-01-10T12:20:00.001-08:00

Robin Teller | Died: Aug. 9, 2003 Location: Hillsdale County, Mich. Teller, 41, was killed by a runaway trailer while walking with a friend on a country road. The friend suffered severe leg injuries. The driver was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and negligent homicide. He was sentenced to a year in jail.

Earl J. Buetow

2008-01-10T12:19:00.002-08:00

Earl J. Buetow | Died: Dec. 15, 2004 Location: Northern Los Angeles County Buetow, 74, was driving home from a medical appointment when a trailer decoupled and an SUV swerved to avoid it, plowing into his truck. Police found that the trailer had been improperly hitched.

John T. Lotter

2008-01-10T12:19:00.001-08:00

John T. Lotter | Died: Aug. 4, 2005 Location: Oconto County, Wis. Lotter, 42, died when a trailer separated from a pickup and struck his GMC Sierra. The pickup's hitch ball was too small to fit securely within the trailer coupler. The trailer's safety chains were also inadequate and its emergency braking system didn't work.

Erika Hills

2008-01-10T12:18:00.002-08:00

Erika Hills | Died: Aug. 17, 2005 Location: Napa County, Calif. Hills, a 61-year-old socialite and philanthropist, was killed when a runaway trailer cut her car nearly in half. The trailer had not been properly attached and lacked an emergency braking device required by California law.

Charles Lewis

2008-01-10T12:18:00.001-08:00

Charles Lewis | Died: Jan. 4, 2006 Location: Lee's Summit, Mo. Lewis, a 59-year-old postal worker, was decapitated when a runaway trailer hurtled across a highway median and smashed into his SUV. The trailer's coupler was too large for the hitch ball on the truck pulling it, and its emergency braking system was inoperable.

Karen Simpson

2008-01-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

Karen Simpson | Died: Jan. 17, 2007 Location: Glynn County, Ga. Simpson, 48, was killed when a runaway trailer struck her Chevy Blazer. The trailer came loose because its coupler was too wide to secure the hitch ball on the truck towing it. The driver was sentenced to 90 days in jail for second-degree homicide.

Tyson Merrifield

2008-01-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

Tyson Merrifield | Died: Aug. 8, 2007 Location: Near Billings, Mont. The 26-year-old roofer and ironworker was killed when his pickup was struck head-on by a horse trailer. Both the trailer's hitch and its safety chains had broken, a police report said.