DA to Investigate Fatal Crash
No charges have been filed yet in the Monday afternoon crash that took the life of a 40-year-old woman while she was jogging in Limerick Township.
District Attorney Risa Ferman's office has begun an investigation into a fatal crash that took the life of a 40-year-old woman on Monday.
Merinda Thompson was jogging when she was struck from behind by a green Ford Focus driven by an unidentified 18-year-old man.
Visit Limerick-Royersford-Spring City Patch for full coverage.
worldpeace2013
12:53 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
ouch rip . I was always afraid of his when I was a new driver - - I can only say sometimes people should jog at a gym?? bc u may get hit by a car!! specially if its sunny :( again my respect to her and her family its a shame when these freak accidents happen lets hope he was being responsible
Kathy Bender
9:33 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Yes, let's once again blame the pedestrian. We should all NEVER walk or jog because people do not know how to drive! PEOPLE, get a grip! Either follow the rules of the road or get off the road! Especially if it's SUNNY? Really? What should we do now a days? Walk and jog in the dark or we MUST all join a gym to walk or jog? I honestly cannot beleive what I am reading here!
pedestrian
12:08 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Roads are for driving. Period.
pruckels
1:20 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I would be AMAZED if this was a freak accident. 18yo kid, probably texting. Nothing "freak" about that. Texting while driving should have the same punishments as DUI.
Datsme!
1:27 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It would not surpise me if the investigation reveals that this kid was infact texting! What a shame!
tex
1:36 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Driver refused to turn over the cell phone at the scene, so you can bet on it.
Stephen Eickhoff
2:34 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I would also refuse to hand over my phone if, God forbid, I were involved in such an accident. Why? Because they don't have a right to look at my phone without a warrant.
pruckels
10:45 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
And yet, if you weren't guilty, you would have nothing to hide, no?
Kathy Bender
9:33 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Agreed!
Beth
1:54 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I agree, you can't call it a "freak" accident.
Datsme!
1:24 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I too jog on the streets but I run against traffic. Not sure if the way I run would make a differance, but I do feel more comfortable running that way versus with traffic. My prayer goes out to the family!
Stephen Eickhoff
2:35 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
That is the safer way. You can see the oncoming traffic.
Kathy Bender
9:34 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
She WAS running against traffic!
tex
1:35 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
People--PLEASE jog on the side of the road FACING oncoming traffic. Especially if you are wearing earphones. I see too many people who don't follow this basic rule, and it's sad that this kind of thing has to happen...
areaman
2:15 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
This poor woman was running against traffic. The car that hit her crossed over into the other side of the road and hit her from behind.
pedestrian
12:10 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
And don't walk along the road wearing black at night! I have seen this too many times.
Ramona Kim
1:53 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Novel Idea? Instead of targeting drivers just making their way south through Virginia on I-95 or through Philadelphia with cameras around Penn, target people texting and driving!
Haley Ashby
2:27 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
In the first police report I read it said he ended up in the other lane so she probably was jogging towards traffic ..he was probably on his cell and swerved into the other lane where he struck her..story might have changed by now but that's what I'm going off of in the first article
Dee
3:01 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
No she wasn't running against traffic.. I was behind the car when it happened.. He swerved into the other lane & hit her face on. Most likely texting. Prayers to her family.
Kimberley
3:32 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
"Authorities said their preliminary investigation found that the car was heading northbound on Lewis Road when it crossed into the southbound lane, then partially off the road, where it struck Thompson, who was jogging northbound on the southbound side." She was jogging against traffic.
Ida Marre
8:21 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The cops can get his cell phone records from his carrier they don't need to see his cell phone to ascertain if he was texting or not, it is just that simple. My heart goes out to the young ladies family and friends. Our streets are very dangerous, whether walking or jogging. Stick to the county and local trails for jogging, hiking and walking, much saffer there.
Grammy C
11:00 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
please please check that cell phone and his blood. It lies in there somewhere. Just as bad as DWI. Hope punishment fits the crime. God bless this poor girls family.
H10B
2:03 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I am very sorry to hear of this loss of a life. My prayers go out to the family. Innocent until proven guilty - let's wait for the facts to come out before we judge others. ..it is so easy to sit behind a computer and pass judgement of others actions.
Jennifer
2:18 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
It is a tragic accident but really people shouldn't be jogging on Lewis Road, there are plenty of back streets you can jog around 15 times to make up for two miles on Lewis Rd. Even if the kid might have been texting just looking away for a second to reach for something is enough time to drift over the white line and clip a mailbox or a person. I have lived on Route 29 for 45 years and I will not walk, jog or ride a bike on near it. I don't think anyone should be at fault, they both were. Not to mention how people turning into the daycare have almost caused me to use defensive tactics and cross the yellow line to avoid hitting them. That entire section of Lewis Rd from Wawa to the Post Office is crazy!!
RP
10:42 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
For the comment "Almost using defensive tactics and cross the yellow line to avoid hitting them" sounds like you are to close to the car in front of you or going to fast..at a safer distance & speed, there would be no need for "defensive driving"
That type of driving also kills people...people need to be responsible for their actions ...period...I don't see it as an accident, it's just pure negligence. Sure, people make bad choices all the time but if it cost a person their life, I don't believe a smack on the wrist and a fine is an equal punishment. After all this family will endure a life sentence of pain from the loss of a loved one.
Jennifer
1:17 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
RP the first thing we learn when we drive is Defensive Driving. Yes I have had several incidents in that section like I said from Wawa to the Post Office. The people pulling out of Ameilia's to make a sudden turn, people not using their turn signal for the day care, people pulling out of Middletons etc..it is a bad section period!
Baily Babylone
2:41 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
He was a young boy, he made a mistake, the jogger just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, jogging on Lewis Rd is crazy! I feel bad for both families, it's a nightmare freak accident, if you ask me. Bad things happen when it's your time it's your time. He didn't do it on purpose!