A 91-year-old man driving the wrong way struck another vehicle on I-26 in Henderson County on Oct. 13, and both drivers were killed in the accident. Authorities were alerted to the incident around 9:30 p.m.
The Hendersonville accident allegedly occurred when the elderly man was traveling west on the wrong side of the road and hit a vehicle traveling east. The other driver was a 36-year-old man. Both men died on impact during the head-on collision.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol was still investigating the crash at the time of the report. Police sent in blood work for toxicology screening and were checking the vehicles, but they do not believe alcohol was a factor in the wreck. One officer said the cause of the accident appears simple, stating that the pickup truck driver drove on the off-ramp and went the wrong direction on the interstate.
Families are often unsure of how to proceed after a fatal accident takes the life of a loved one. When car accidents are caused by a driver’s negligence, the family of a decedent has the right to seek compensation in civil court for the emotional and financial losses they suffered. If the responsible driver also died in the wreck, a family may still be able to gain damages from the driver’s estate.
When operating a motor vehicle, a driver has a responsibility to others on the road to act responsibly. Even if a driver is confused or without ill intention, he or she can still be responsible for not following traffic laws. When the family of a victim wants to pursue a wrongful death suit, an attorney could gather evidence and negotiate with a negligent driver’s insurance company.
Source: WLOS, “Wrong-Way Driver Kills Two in I-26 Accident”, October 14, 2014
