From the article: No charges are pending in connection with the crash.

This was not a crash. It was an accident. If you look up the word accident you will see this as the first result.

an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents.

The last line should read: No charges are pending in connection with the accident.

This was a situation where things where unintentional and unavoidable and the second driver did make an attempt at an evasive maneuver but there was nothing that could be done and I'm sure the first driver had what I call that "oh chit" moment when she realized she was going to impact the stopped car.

Again, this was not a crash. It was an accident in the purest form of the word.

Sorry, Kevin, but "crash" is the correct term. There was a "crash," was there not?

Here's a thought ~ how about we be thankful no one was critically injured?

"Crash" or "accident" .... Does it really matter?

Be thankful for the outcome, other then the congestion of traffic.

Kevin, You may be right or maybe not, but either way, aren't you expecting too great a command over the English language from the BDN staff? If they were smart, they wouldn't be writing for the trashy & biased BDN.

Yeah I drove by the scene of this CRASH before the CRASH had happened and said that the way the broken down car was sitting there it was an ACCIDENT waiting to happen. Must have just missed it as I drove by there at right around 6 myself. Why are some people so picky? For the record, the first thing that pops up when you look up the meaning of crash is:

a. To break violently or noisily; smash: CHECK

b. To undergo sudden damage or destruction on impact: CHECK

2. To make a sudden loud noise: CHECK

3. To move noisily or so as to cause damage: CHECK

Yup, to me, a car smashing into another car is both an Accident and a Crash. Any other Kevins have an opinion on this? Also, since I managed to exit safely around the broken down car, the Crash/Accident was certainly avoidable, if you were actually paying attention.

Troopers these days use the term crash. Look at this webpage: http://www.informe.org/mcrs/

So glad no one was hurt, I know 2 of the 3 involved!

ITHINKSO, if you don't like the BDN don't read it!

I too hope everyone is OK.

In current reporter parlance every fire is a blaze, every accident is a crash. Which technically they probably are, but the use of those words is a cheap way to hype up the excitement level in the story. The words are cliched and have been flogged to death. Effective writers would do well to give them a rest.

Crash...Accident....

Thank-you, GOD, no one was killed!

Hey Kevin #1,

What sound do you suppose it made when the first car hit the Buick?

Are you actually arguing that there was no "crash"?

It's amazing what some people come up with just to be contrary!

Here in the south it would be called a wreck. Either way someones car or truck is tore up and since people in this neck of the woods drive like they are on a nascar track and hate to wear belts, someone always goes to the hospital via airmed.

Why does it matter if they say crash, accident, wreck...don't you people have better things to do then decide on whether they should use these terms....you should be happy that it wasn't major because by the sounds of it DEFINITELY could have been worse!

Since words form the basis of how we think and communicate, I think they're pretty important. Accurate descriptions that make the subject come to life are more informative and enjoyable to read than are a series of cliches. That reminds me of a professor who gave these instructions for a writing assignment: "No cliches! Think outside the box!" If you read the Old Dawg Kent Ward's columns in this very newspaper, he often remarks on such word choices from the perspective a of retired writer/editor.

At the other extreme, just once wouldn't it be cool to read that those cars was all stove to pieces!

Well the BDN did call it an accident in the headline, so at least give them some credit for that.

They did at that! Consider that credit given.

in law enforcement, accidents are called CRASHES, not accidents. i dont know why, they just are.

well one was hurt and it was my daughter.and maiine is not a no fault state so someone is to blame.

It was an Accident. I might even say it was a crash but it wasn’t a “Pileup”. Stop trying to over dramatize and just report the news.

Now BDN overuses the word "pileup" or "traffic jam" Traffic was able to move, slowly... but it could move.

LE will use the word crash when it was some idiot who was doing something stupid and caused a crash. The idiot doing 100 mph plus in a 65 mph zone and goes off the road and hits a tree, that is crash. When a person ignores a red light and hits another car. That is a crash. The jerk that runs a stop sign and hits another car, again. That is a crash.

Now when you have a broken down car and the person tried to get their hazards on, could not get the car out of the road and someone runs into it because they could not avoid it, that is an accident. When you have another driver who comes across the accident and tries their best to avoid it but cannot, we now have a bigger accident.

There is a huge difference between an accident and a crash. Accidents are unavoidable, a crash is not.

Kevin, you need to look up the definition of "crash."

Ryanrobbins I know what the word crash means. You are just to much of an idiot to understand the difference between an accident and a crash.