A Benson couple died after a head-on collision in Johnston County on Sept. 17. The 19-year-old man who drove into their vehicle faces charges for the Four Oaks three-vehicle accident.
The Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 1:50 p.m. near Lassiter Road on N.C. 210 when a westbound Chevrolet pickup truck crossed into the east lane and struck a Dodge pickup truck. The Chevrolet continued to travel after the collision until it was rear-ended by a third vehicle. A surveillance video from a gas station near where the accident occurred caught the head-on collision on film. One news station suggested that the footage showed the Chevrolet cross into oncoming traffic can collide with the other truck.
The 81-year-old man and the 79-year-old woman in the Dodge truck died in the wreck. The 52-year-old woman driving the Kia suffered non-life threatening injuries and went to Wake Medical Center for treatment. The Chevrolet driver, who is from Princeton, faces charges for driving left of center and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
When a fatal accident claims the life of a loved one, a victim’s family may wish to file a wrongful death suit to hold the negligent party or parties responsible in civil court. This could provide a family with compensation for funeral expenses, estate costs and property damage.
If a case goes to trial, the plaintiff’s side would need to show that a defendant’s irresponsible actions caused the accident that led to the victim’s death. Not following the rules of the road by crossing the centerline, speeding or running a stop light could all constitute negligent behavior that may suggest liability. The authorities or a separate investigator may collect evidence for criminal or civil court by interviewing witnesses and examining the crash scene, and security tapes or cell phone videos would likely be helpful when attempting to gather the details of a crash. Such evidence may be used by a personal injury lawyer who is representing the plaintiffs who are seeking compensation.
Source: WNCN, “Charges filed in crash that killed elderly Johnston Co. couple“, September 18, 2014