Nearly every Missouri driver has been in a situation where they were almost involved in an accident. Some cars narrowly escape being involved in head-on collisions, drunk driving accidents and other types of crashes in which people are often seriously or fatally injured. Sadly, other vehicles — and their occupants — are not as fortunate.
A lucky motorist was nearly involved in a head-on collision Interstate 70 recently. At approximately 10 a.m., the 64-year-old driver of a westbound sports car somehow lost control of it. The car careened into the median, under the cable barrier and into the eastbound lanes, which is where it went airborne. The car behind the lucky motorist was hit head-on.
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle and his passenger, an 81-year-old woman with the same last name as the driver, both suffered fatal injuries in the impact. The driver died at the scene. His passenger survived long enough to be taken to an area hospital via helicopter.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she died sometime later. The driver of the other vehicle was fortunate enough to survive the crash, but did suffer serious injuries. The 24-year-old man’s current condition was not reported.
Depending on the victim’s injuries, he could be facing a lengthy recovery. During that time, he will most likely incur significant medical bills, lost wages and other damages that are incurred in head-on collisions. In an attempt to recoup his financial losses, he may file a personal injury claim in a Missouri civil court against the estate of the deceased driver. Should he successfully prove negligence, the court could enter a monetary judgment on his behalf. The deceased passenger’s surviving family members do have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver’s estate, which may be resolved in the form of an insurance settlement.
Source: stltoday.com, “Two from St. Louis killed in mid-Missouri accident“, Tim O’Neil, Feb. 6, 2016
