Friday, August 21, 2015

Car crashes into Bethesda storefront (Photo)

A car crashed into the Underwraps store in the Shoppes of Bethesda shopping center this morning. The driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer.

No other injuries were reported, but a building inspector from the County will check for structural damage.

Photo: Andrew Gifford

48 comments:

cargoplex said...

It just... keeps... happening.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

So recall when others reported on something after dyer and he accused them of theft of news.

But somehow this is different.

Robert Dyer said...

7:29: I think you're smoking something - the cases I referred to were stories I had brought to the public's attention through my own investigative work and original reporting. My work was then stolen and not accredited by the thieves. They weren't police and fire incidents tweeted out to all media by the fire department. Good God, man, wake up.

Anonymous said...

you broke the schlitz malt liquor story?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

7:29pm expects to win Edward R. Murrow awards reporting on cars crashing into underwear stores. Big, big story.

Anonymous said...

I hope this isn't another case of "DWI" (driving while infirm). There are way too many "old people driving who shouldn't be driving" stories making their way into the news these days. Some of them don't even make it to the news. They just leave behind rattled and terror-stricken near-victims in their wake.

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Anonymous said...

That's it Dyer! I'm starting my own blog exclusively about old folks driving into stores. I will expose it all, including the lingerie store big, big story.

Anonymous said...

It would be kinda funny if a driver smashed into Smashburger.

Robert Dyer said...

9:48: Don't forget to buy a $13,000 blue check mark from Twitter.

Flynn said...

I know you deleted a similar comment but it would be nice if you kept this and helped explain something as a courtesy to your readers. It would help us better understand your perspectives.

You mentioned before when other blogs write about something after you had the initial scoop that they simply saw the news here and copied you.

Can you explain the practical difference when you wrote about a story like this one after other publications? How is it different? Perhaps you stumbled upon the accident without ever having heard the news from somewhere else. But the situation to us readers sounds the same.

We would really appreciate some clarity on your rationale in other cases where you accused other writers of theft. Thanks Robert. Appreciate your pragmatic response to a constructive conversation. No trolls. Just real dialogue.

Flynn said...

I just saw this comment after I wrote mine below.

So because it's news from a police blogger it's different. I get that.

What were the circumstances of the news items others stole from you?

Anonymous said...

Of course, if the MoCo Machine had stolen Boeing's headquarters from Washington State, this never would have happened.

Anonymous said...

@1:19pm The difference is that if Dyer's reporting on something from the police blotter or a press release, it's not an exclusive story -- it was announced. No journalist had to dig up the details on it.

Meanwhile, there are stories never reported via press release or via a public information outlet, that Dyer is the first to report on. Things like stores closing, or a new tenant moving into a retail space. Dyer gets this information from tipsters along with knowing the area, and being a man with feet on the street reporting. Then the other news outlets copy his story, but don't credit him.

I'm not Dyer's biggest fan, but I see it as one guy (Dyer) versus some larger corporate news sites, and it's underhanded for these news sites to report on stories Dyer investigated and reported first, without accreditation. One competing site in particular seems to do this often (BM/BB, formerly BN), and I don't think it's right and especially when Dyer is the David to their Goliath.

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Anonymous said...

3:43 Yes, he's far more interesting, and it puts a fresh spin on news. Whether you agree or not, Robert gets you thinking.

Bob said...
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Anonymous said...

Dyer has the only local news site with real news. Others insert their opinions too much. Dyer doesn't just rally behind every MoCo press release.

And he doesn't just regurgitate each MoCo related article from the Post each morning.

Anonymous said...

Apparently dyer is big into censorship. I read this comment and there was nothing in it that warranted being deleted. What did this guy say that violates comment policy?

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Robert Dyer said...

4:36: He was spamming for competing websites. Kind of like the BCC Regional Services Center newsletters.

Anonymous said...

Bob's comment had no reference to any other site... I'm confused about your rationale.

The BCC regional services center newsletter links to other sites are beneficial to the receiving site. How is that spam? Can you help explain? We don't get your actions. The logic isn't clear.

Anonymous said...

Ok enough with the hyperbole. There are other sites with "real news".

Dyer injects just as much opinion if not more than others. And that's totally his right to do so. No one was arguing otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Getting back on topic, I fear the next elderly person confusing brake pedal incident will be at the Bethesda farm market that's at Bethesda elem school on Sundays. The handicapped parking is near the entrance but it's right where people walk into the market, with only a few cones as barriers. It's an accident waiting to happen.

Anonymous said...

We'll continue to see this problem. Having assistive braking standard on all cars is the only way to stop it. This will probably be mandated soon, like back up cameras were.

Robert Dyer said...

7:30: "The BCC regional services center newsletter links to other sites are beneficial to the receiving site."

That's exactly the problem, and why they are spam (spam added into an ostensibly public service announcement newsletter). Taxpayer money shouldn't be used to promote one private sector news site over another.

Anonymous said...

So you are against the spread of useful information if it doesn't involve your blog?

Robert Dyer said...

2:12: Yes, because in virtually every case, there is an official County web page with all the information. It's gratuitous to link elsewhere. None of the other Regional Service Center directors routinely links to media articles. It's not necessary - but if it's going to be done, my site has to be included. You can't use taxpayer money to promote certain media outlets; it's a clear abuse of taxpayer funds.

Robert Dyer said...

8:35: I totally agree. The technology to stop these incidents is already in many high-end cars, and is probably just a few years away for all new vehicles.

Anonymous said...

Wait I'm really confused. Someone is providing free marketing for your blog. Someone is saying your blog has useful info. Yet you don't want them to link to you.
Then if they include others you say they have to include you.
Then you say it's using tax payer money abusively to link to media news?

Anonymous said...

I agree it would be nice to have, but all these mandatory technology requirements cost a ton to develop, implement, and maintain. Gonna wince when that backup camera or assisted braking repair comes in at $1,500 in 6 years.

Anonymous said...

This is insane. So any news outlet should never be reference by a government unit. Even if said government unit's duty includes educating and informing the residents of what's going on.

Sure if there was bias I understand. But there is no bias. Especially with the regional service center newsletter. They link to everyone based on quality of content and pertinence.

Peter said...

I subscribe to the newsletter and also noticed that he links to his favorite blog all the time instead of the county's website. Kind of weird.

Cool he likes a blog, but he should promote it on his own time, not using an official newsletter.

Anonymous said...

It is strange. The newsletter goes out as official, under the county seal, but only links to his favorite blog consistently but no other news outlets.

Anonymous said...

Which is his favorite blog?

Anonymous said...

6:44 AM Subscribe or look at the archives. You'll have your answer :)

Anonymous said...

Bethesdanow?

Anonymous said...

I appreciate all the news link that he provides to many different news sources.

Peter said...

It's cool he has his favorite blog. It's not a secret, he's said he has a favorite.
But you can't push your favorite through an official county communication. Full stop.

Anonymous said...

Is there a rule that you can't?

Bob said...

I don't see this accident in any of the police reports, even on his own site - so where did Robert Dyer find out about it then? If it wasn't in a police source as anonymous wrote above, then where did Dyer get it from? And would it fall under his description of stealing?

Robert Dyer said...

6:13: Check Pete Piringer's Twitter account, and you'll find it. Just like all the TV stations and everybody else did. Nice try, "Bob".

Anonymous said...

Ah ok so you took your news from someone's Twitter account report.

Robert Dyer said...

5:40: Everyone got it from that report. I also had a reader on-scene with additional information, and who got a photo.

What every news source getting this story from the fire department/police has to do with someone stealing enterprising, original reporting on other scoops I've presented is not clear, however. You're struggling, man.

Anonymous said...

Are we allowed to not believe you? As you don't believe other news outlets? Seems fair.