A 76-year-old man was killed in a two-car wreck in Lenoir County on Oct. 11 when a 52-year-old driver struck the driver’s side of his vehicle. Responders at the scene found the vehicles on top of one another, and state troopers say the second driver is at fault and under investigation. The deceased victim was accompanied by his 46-year-old son, who was injured and airlifted to a Greenville hospital along with the other driver.
The collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Highway 903. Highway patrol officers say the elderly man was heading north and started turning left when the second driver veered left off the road for unknown reasons. The front of his vehicle reportedly collided with the other car’s side at an angle.
According to police, speed was not believed to be a factor in the crash, and the results of the man’s blood work were still pending at the time of the report. The man who allegedly caused the collision says he doesn’t remember how the accident occurred. Possible charges will be determined upon further investigation.
It is unclear why state troopers considered the second man at fault. He may have failed to yield when the other driver was turning or pressed the accelerator by accident. Investigators may also check for vehicle failure, especially if the man’s blood work shows no signs of alcohol or drug use.
Whether or not a driver’s behavior was reckless, the family of a deceased victim may decide to consult with a personal injury attorney who can help them file a wrongful death claim to recover accident-related damages. The attorney may use police reports to show that the deceased driver complied with traffic laws and that his or her safety was compromised by the other driver’s actions.
Source: WITN, “Fatal two-vehicle wreck under investigation“, October 12, 2014