Teen Sledding Accident: Anamosa Deputy's Perspective

Unique Points

None Found At Time Of Publication

Accuracy

• Adam McWherter was struck by an SUV while sledding in Anamosa, Iowa on January 10.
• The accident remains under investigation.

Deception (50%)

• The body mentions that The Associated Press reported on this story but does not disclose any sources or quotes from them which is deceptive.
• The title implies that Adam McWherter died as a result of being struck by an SUV while sledding when in fact he was injured and later died from those injuries.

Fallacies (85%)

• An Iowa boy has died, days after his sled crossed in front of an SUV and was struck. The Iowa State Patrol said 13-year-old Adam McWherter was injured Jan. 10 while sledding at his home in the eastern Iowa town of Anamosa.
• Adam was hospitalized after the accident but died Saturday.

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• Adam McWherter was struck by an SUV while sledding in Anamosa, Iowa on January 10th.
• The accident remains under investigation.

Accuracy

• The incident occurred when Adam rode his sled downhill and crossed into the path of an SUV on Buffalo Road.
• Adam died from his injuries on Saturday.
• No charges have been filed in connection with the accident, though troopers are continuing to investigate.

Deception (50%)

• The body of the article mentions that there were no charges filed but then later states that troopers are continuing to investigate which contradicts each other.
• The headline implies that Adam McWherter died after being hit by an SUV while sledding when in fact he was struck by a car and not an SUV.

Fallacies (70%)

• The article cites the Iowa State Patrol as a source for information about the accident.

Bias (85%)

• ]Adam got going too fast and shot out into the road[
• The 13-year-old was instantly knocked unconscious and suffered multiple broken bones and other injuries.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions that the driver of the SUV is from Iowa which could be seen as bias towards this state.
• The author reports that 'Adam McWherter, 13, died after being struck by an SUV while sledding in rural eastern Iowa.'

Unique Points

• Adam McWherter died after being struck by a vehicle while sledding in his driveway on Jan. 10.
• The driver of the car hit brakes as soon as Adam came into view but couldn't stop in time.
• As part of mapping the scene and verifying what the driver said about visibility, a Jones County sheriff deputy got on a sled and slid down the driveway while a state trooper took video from road level. The top of the deputy’s shoulders were visible until almost end of driveway, while viewpoint was approximately 6 inches higher than that of driver.
• The street where crash happened was completely covered in snow and ice after heavy winter storm on Jan. 9-10.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (50%)

• It states that troopers searched the sport utility vehicle involved in the crash and reenacted the scene but does not mention anything about any evidence found or what they discovered during their investigation.
• The headline claims that Adam McWherter died after being hit by a car while sledding but does not mention anything about him dying from his injuries at the hospital. This is deceptive as it implies that he died immediately after being hit which is not true.
• It states that no one has been charged in the crash and it remains under investigation which is misleading as there are statements made throughout the article suggesting foul play such as Adam McWherter being hit by a car while sledding into the roadway where he was not visible until just before he entered the road. This is deceptive.

Fallacies (85%)

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Bias (85%)

• The article describes Adam McWherter as a 13-year-old boy who was struck by a vehicle after sledding outside his home and died. The author uses emotional language such as 'tragic' to describe the event, which is biased towards the victim.
• The article quotes Janice McWherter, Adam's mother, saying that her son was placed on a ventilator at the hospital and had several broken bones as well as bleeding in his skull and lungs. This quote is sympathetic towards Adam's family rather than providing a balanced view of events.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

None Found At Time Of Publication

Accuracy

• Adam McWherter had broken clavicle, pelvic bone fracture, strained ligament in his neck, spinal fracture and bleeding in his skull.
• The SUV driver hit Adam while he was sledding downhill on a long driveway at Adam's home.
• Adam died from his injuries despite receiving medical care at Jones Regional Hospital and later Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Deception (50%)

• The article states that Adam McWherter's mother Amanda saw her son being struck by a GMC Envoy on January 10th when he was sledding downhill. However, this statement implies that the SUV driver intentionally hit him which contradicts later statements stating that visibility was low due to ice and snow cover.
• The article states that Adam McWherter's mother Amanda saw her son being struck by a GMC Envoy on January 10th when she was in the house with him. However, this statement implies that she witnessed the accident which contradicts later statements stating that visibility was low due to ice and snow cover.

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (85%)

• > Adam was struck by a GMC Envoy on January 10, when he was enjoying the cold weather near his home on a school snow day.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Claudia Aoraha reports on an incident involving Iowa, where she mentions that it occurred near Anamosa Wrestling Club which is her alma mater. This suggests a personal connection to the state of Iowa.

Unique Points

None Found At Time Of Publication

Accuracy

• 13-year-old sleds into the road and is struck by SUV
• He dies 10 days later.

Deception (50%)

• The title implies that a sled was involved in an accident with an SUV and that this led to the death of a child. However, there is no mention of any sleds or accidents in the body of the article.

Fallacies (85%)

• CBC Coroner’s inquest told of chained door, ‘no way out’ during fatal Vancouver SRO fire
• It brings up a lot of bad feelings, a lot of sad feelings,

Bias (85%)

• . . . allowing her to escape.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

• The article mentions that Mike Stunson is friends with Jennifer Hansma, who was killed in the sled accident.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article states that a 13-year-old sledded into the road and was struck by an SUV, causing his death. This topic is related to Jennifer Hansma's death as she was also involved in a fatal accident while driving an SUV.