Recently, one stretch of interstate in Texas saw two fatal wrong-way crashes within a 48-hour period. A state trooper with over 10 years of experience told reporters that he has never seen two fatal wrong-way accidents in such a short period of time. He went on to say that any wrong-way crash is tragic because this type of accident is preventable, given the clear presence of road signs.
The first collision occurred in the early-morning hours of June 29. A 23-year-old female driver was going the wrong way on Interstate 45 when she crashed into a vehicle carrying three other young people. The driver and one passenger in that car were killed immediately, and the remaining passenger was transported to a hospital in The Woodlands and listed in stable condition. The driver who caused the car accident was arrested and charged with two crimes: intoxicated manslaughter and intoxicated assault. She is being held in Montgomery County Jail on bonds totally $140,000.
The second accident occurred on July 1, less than 48 hours after the first incident. In this case, a 43-year-old driver took a ramp onto Interstate 45 but then made a sudden U-turn. He began driving down the freeway in the wrong direction, crashing into a vehicle carrying two people, both of whom died from injuries sustained in the collision. The driver who caused the accident was also taken to a hospital in The Woodlands, and he was later transferred to another facility where he remains in critical condition. A passenger in his car was also killed.
While it appears that one of the drivers may have been operating a vehicle while intoxicated, there has been no mention of drugs or alcohol as a factor in the second crash, which is still under investigation. The families of the five victims killed in these incidents are likely awaiting the completion of police investigations to learn exactly what factors led to the loss of their loved ones.
With criminal charges already filed in one case and possibly in the other, these tragic crashes will likely lead to civil court actions on the part of the grieving family members. It is probably in their best interest to seek assistance from a person who is fluent in wrongful death law.
Source: yourhoustonnews.com, “Second fatal head-on collision in The Woodlands; vehicle driving wrong way on I-45 South, three killed,” James Ridgway, July 3, 2012
