Wendy Greenhill, 34, of Ironton, Missouri and James Stirts, 38, of Ironton, Missouri were injured in a single car accident March 20th, 2010 on Route B 1 mile west of Highway 21.
According to the report of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C, Greenhill, driving a 1996 Ford Ranger, was driving eastbound when she lost control of her vehicle due to wet pavement. The vehicle then drove off the left side of the roadway.
Greenhill and Stirts were both taken by Valle Ambulance to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.
According to Wikipedia, Hydroplaning occurs when "occurs when a layer of water builds between the rubber tires of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to the loss of traction and thus preventing the vehicle from responding to control inputs such as steering, braking or accelerating". If finding yourself hydroplaning, do not pump the brakes or jerk the steering wheel, for this can cause you to lose control. Instead, ease your foot off of the accelerator until you can feel the road again. If you find yourself in need to braking, lightly pump the brakes. If other vehicles are infront of you, attempt to follow in their tire tracks to prevent hydroplaning. All of these tips can keep you safe on the road, even in the wettest conditions.
