Update: Tyler Waldman, Patch Editor, Distracted Before Towson Crash
A Baltimore County Police crash report reveals that Waldman, a Towson resident, failed to stop at a red light on Goucher Boulevard.
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(Updated Saturday 1:31 p.m.)— A Baltimore County Police investigation revealed that Essex Patch editor Tyler Waldman was at fault in a Nov. 26 car crash that left him with serious injuries.
Waldman's Honda Civic was struck by a Ford Mustang at the intersection of Goucher Boulevard and E. Joppa Road at 9:17 a.m., police said.
Waldman, a 24-year-old Towson resident, was distracted while driving and drove through a red light on Goucher Boulevard, according to a police crash report. The driver of the Mustang, 37-year-old Rosedale woman Shernale T. Kenney, had the green light on Joppa Road.
A Baltimore County police crash investigator concluded that both drivers were speeding. Waldman was traveling 51 miles per hour and Kenney was traveling 44 miles per hour— both in posted 35 mile per hour zones.
About nine minutes before the accident, Waldman had posted on his Twitter account that he was having breakfast at Corner Bakery, located approximately a quarter-mile from the site of the crash. Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cathleen Batton said there was no evidence to suggest he was using his phone while driving and did not provide specifics on what caused Waldman to be distracted.
Waldman was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma via helicopter immediately after the accident. He later continued treatment at Sinai Hospital.
On his Twitter account Friday, Waldman posted that he was discharged in the early afternoon.
Kenney received treatment for minor injuries at Sinai after the crash.
Batton said charges may be filed pending additional investigation.
Electronic court records show that Waldman was previously found guilty of reading an electronic message on his phone while traveling near Towsontown Boulevard and York Road on May 23. He was fined $70.
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Shin
3:55 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
oooooooooooph. That sound you're hearing is the implosion of 99% of everyone's viewpoints on the event.
jen.haire
5:42 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Not so. Don't assume such harsh judgment on the part of others, just because it's your own.
Towson Guy
5:36 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Slow Down People!!! Isn't the new Bike Beltway supposed to go through this intersection?
Needaname
6:18 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Yikes - it sure is !
Bryan P. Sears
7:02 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Needaname: I can only repeat again what is in the story from the report and police~ "Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cathleen Batton said there was no evidence to suggest he was using his phone while driving and did not provide specifics on what caused Waldman to be distracted."
Needaname
6:30 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Bryan - what was the point in reporting the speed limit on Joppa Rd and NOT the speed limit on Goucher Blvd. Furthermore, someday, someone is going to ask Tyler what was the distraction. IF Tyler was on the phone - this would be an important message to everyone that even GOOD PEOPLE make mistakes - and this kind of accident can happen to anyone.
Nayana Davis
6:51 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
I tried to make it clearer, both were traveling in 35 mph zones.
Buck Harmon
6:57 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
When all is said and done Tyler will be a good guy that seems to work hard and cares about doing a good job...everything between here and there will simply be part of the lesson...
Mend well Tyler..!
Cheryl Parks-Weidley
9:19 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
No one should speed but, we all do at times. Not everyone survives their error. No one was hurt more than Mr Waldman and I'm sure he regrets the incident for many reasons. I am glad to hear both people who were in the accident are as well as they are.
John maynard
4:01 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
The ultimate question is, "Has he finally learned a lesson and will he take driving more seriously in the future before he kills or injures someone else?" As a safety professional, I remind myself every time that I get behind the wheel that I am about to operate a dangerous machine, capable of instantaneous death or disablement. Fortunately, the USA fatality rate continues to go down, now being equal to that during Herbert Hoover's administration (1920's).
Drive safely, folks.
Mr. Howard
5:12 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Of course, it is good to hear that Mr. Waldman has been discharged from the hospital, and I wish him a full recovery.. But he really needs get control of his driving behavior. According to this report, he has had two incidents within a six month period (the May 23 incident and this one) in which he could have killed himself or an innocent victim as a result of his "distracted" driving.
Alice
7:24 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
I agree with Mr. Howard -- 'tis good that Tyler is home and recovering. ... It isn't just cell phones that create distracted drivers. Pushing a button on the radio to change the station, adjusting a mirror, turning the temperature up or down, putting sunglasses on or off, taking a sip from a drink, plus a lot of other tiny actions all distract us when driving. We all need to give driving our cars our completely undivided attention, and keep an eye out for others who don't know that rule.
Tim
9:22 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Fairly safe to assume the guy was texting while he was driving. Can it be proved? Of course not. I'll take those odds though.
Essentially, he's to blame for his own injuries. I'm glad he's going to fully recover, but am I the only one who thinks this guy isn't going to learn from his mistakes?
Leona MacDonald
12:29 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
ENOUGH OF THE TEXTING ARGUMENT. Actually if he was texting it can be proved fairly easily without much effort. They can just grab his cell and look as I doubt he was in condition to think about deleting his call record OR the cops can call his service provider for a record of his texts and downloads. Easy pleasy. IT IS NOT SAFE TO ASSUME anything. IF YOU DRIVE A CAR...There are a lot of things that can be distracted driving without being on a cell phone or texting. Protestors on the sidewalk..looking for a street or turn...a pretty christmas display in a window..a billion things...! He just was having breakfast maybe he spilled his coffee! I've done that before but left the coffee to stain the seat of the car and floor. Dropping a ciggie can be quite the distraction. *L*
lets not assume
Mr. Howard
7:28 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
True, we don't know if Mr. Waldman was texting during his recent crash ... But here is what we do know, according to this report:
A) he was found guilty of reading a message on his cell phone while driving in May; and
B) on November 26, he ran a red light while driving 51 mph in a 35 mph zone
take a look at the photo above - it only sheer luck that neither Mr. Waldman nor the other driver was killed
Tim
12:47 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
all I take from this is I pray to goodness I'm never on the road near you. you sounds like a Grade A train wreck behind the wheel - like many Maryland drivers.
Needaname
6:31 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Well - thank goodness you have not smashed into anyone. I was at a complete stop when a distracted driver rear ended me going 45 MPH. You are not cute.
Needaname
8:43 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I saw Tyler's car at the scene. It looked BAD. I left immediately because I started crying. It was through divine intervention no one was killed.
Leona MacDonald
9:46 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I was responding to someone assuming...that the guy was texting or on the phone. It is valid...that anything can be a distraction..it need not be a cell phone. Instantly assuming that the distraction was a cell phone is kinda ...out there. Sorry that I play fair and I'd want a little more than..he was on his cell...when it could have been a hundred things that distracted him. Now...go ahead and just let me know that I'm assuming someone is innocent of a thing until proven guilty. The argument is out of gas.
He was in an accident and distracted doesn't instantly equate to cell phone. SORRY...but if there was a text that supports he was on the road texting or on the phone...then it's probably safe to assume. The clincher is this "located approximately a quarter-mile from the site of the crash. Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cathleen Batton said there was no evidence to suggest he was using his phone while driving" ...repeat "there was no evidence to suggest he was using his phone while driving"
I assume...THAT HE WAS NOT ON HIS CELL..AND EVERYONE IS ASSUMING HE WAS.
I am totally horrid ...I assumed nothing...except that the police investigated and he WASN'T ON HIS PHONE.