5 Dead in Head-on Collision on I-280 (Drunk Driver)

MyFoxToledo.com ^ | December 31, 2007

[Glenn]

Police say the family appears to be non-traditional.

What the hell does that mean?

Terrible writing.

[ShadowDancer]

Beats the hell out of me. I didn’t even catch that the first time around.

[GOP_Proud]

Bookmark

[PalmettoMason]

I was wondering the same thing.

[Doogle]

maybe kids adopted from other races

[Fresh Wind]

Police believe the family is from Maryland because the white minivan had Maryland license plates.

Where's Captain Obvious when we need him?

[shaft29]

It means that the husband was a male and the wife was a female.

[Westlander]

Local Detroit broadcst TV made no mention of ‘non-traditional’ reference on the 6 AM news.

[MDspinboyredux]

Why does the drunk driver always seem to survive?

[ShadowDancer]

I haven’t had the TV on yet but Channel 4 (Fox) site doesn’t even have the story listed as of yet.

[cherry]

why does it have to be a “white” minivan?....it adds nothing to the story.

[fortheDeclaration]

Other people told police the appeared to be drunk. Police say the driver, who suffered minor injuries, is from Adrian, Mich.

Amazing!

I hope he gets some serious jail time.

[Bobalu]

If it were me...I’d feel lucky NOT to survive.
I simply cannot imagine living with such guilt.....

[devane617]

If one of us southerners said something like that we would be labled and visited by rhe rev’s.

[atomic conspiracy]

Just updated:

"Five members of a suburban Baltimore family, returning home from the holidays after visiting relatives in Michigan, were killed late Sunday evening when an alleged drunk driver from Adrian, Mich., slammed into their minivan.

Michael Gagnon, 24, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate-280 near the I-75 interchange when his Ford F250 pick-up collided nearly head-on with the Chevy Astro minivan.

The five passengers killed were all females -- Bethany Griffin, 36, the mother, Jordan Griffin, 10, Haley Burkman, 10, Lacie Burkman, 7, and Vadi Griffin, 6 months.

The father, Danny Griffin, 36, and two other children, Sidney Griffin, 8, and Beu Burkman, 8, survived.

Vadi was secured in a child seat but several of the family members were ejected from the torn minivan.

All of the surviving victims, including the alleged drunk driver, were also taken to St. Vincent for treatment.

Check out the video, still unedited at this hour. Clear shots of the apparent suspect with blood on his face, but walking around talking to cops.

[Westlander]

WWJ 950 AM had it. Bit of a different story.—

Five Killed In Crash Just South of Michigan Border

WWJ Reporting

A terrible tragedy to report on this New Years Eve.

Five members of a Maryland family, including a mother and four children, were killed last night when their minivan collided head-on with a pickup that was reportedly traveling the wrong way on I-280 in North Toledo — just south of the Michigan border. According to reports, the minivan, carrying eight people in all, and a Ford pickup truck, with a Michigan registration, collided just south of I-75 at about 11 p.m. Police confirmed the five deaths, including that of a 6-month-old. Police believe the family was headed home after a Christmas celebration, and say toys and stuffed animals were scattered across the freeway. The names and ages of the other victims have not been released. The pickup driver was transported to the hospital.

http://www.wwj.com/Five-Killed-In-Crash-Just-South-of-Michigan-Border/1408674

[AppyPappy]

but several of the family members were ejected from the torn minivan.

No seatbelts is appears.

[Caramelgal]

Police say the family appears to be “non-traditional”.

I don’t get that either.

There were two adults, a male and female, presumably the mother and father, two 10-year-old girls, two 8-year-olds, a boy and girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6- month-old girl.

So what makes that “non-traditional’?

Where the kids all different races, foster kids or adopted, handicapped, two pairs of twins, did the family dress in “non-traditional” clothing? Illegals? Mormons?

That is really bad writing as it really has no bearing on this very tragic story.

The real story is that 5 people are dead and one is in serious condition because of a drunk driver. I’m more interested in knowing more about the drunk driver, does he have priors, did he have a license, is he an illegal?

Since the family is from Baltimore it’s been all over the local TV news here, if I learn more, I’ll post back with an update.

[Westlander]

Link? Sounds like a third version, each with variances.