A 31-year-old was killed in a multi-car accident that occurred around 5:50 p.m. on July 11 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 71. The accident occurred near the exit for U.S. Highways 36 and 37 when a 28-year-old male drove from the left lane of the highway to the center lane and struck the back of the victim’s car.
Authorities said that the force of the impact caused the victim’s car to crash into a van that was being driven by a 52-year-old man. The vehicle that initiated the wreck then flipped on its side and slid across the highway. The victim’s car stopped in the center lane. Both the van driver and the 28-year-old man suffered injuries that were not considered serious.
State troopers had to shut down the highway for several hours where the accident occurred as they investigated and cleaned up the scene. They reported that alcohol was not believed to have played a role in the crash, however, charges were said to be pending against the 28-year-old male.
In this case, both the man who was injured while driving his van and the family of the decedent may want to file civil suits against the younger driver. Criminal charges against that man could serve as evidence that he was driving negligently in civil litigation. The injured driver of the van may be able to recover compensation for medical bills and property damage through a personal injury suit. The family of the driver who died in the accident could be awarded damages for pain and suffering, final expenses and the loss of the victim’s future income via a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: ABC 6, “One Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-71”, July 12, 2014