It is important for motorists to ensure they are physically able to operate their vehicles. This means they need to be fully aware, with all of their attention on the task at hand. Failure to do this can result in a serious safety hazard which can cause a vehicle collision. This seems to be what may have happened in a recent car accident in Illinois which proved to be fatal.
The incident happened shortly after witnesses say they saw a driver of a truck slumped over the wheel of his vehicle just prior to 4:30 p.m one day in early October. Witnesses reportedly offered the 81-year-old man help, but the driver refused and ended up driving away. This prompted witnesses to call the authorities. The police searched the nearby area in all directions for several blocks.
Shortly afterwards, the driver was involved in a reported four-vehicle accident less than a mile away from where witnesses saw the elderly man slumped over the wheel of his truck. The man had allegedly driven away at a high rate of speed from the scene of the incident. Although no serious injuries were suffered following this initial collision, the man then is said to have run a red light and crashed into oncoming traffic.
The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident ,along with two nuns, 86 and 48 years of age respectively. A minimum of 11 people were hospitalized as a result of the second collision. At least two individuals of those hospitalized were listed in critical condition.
Those who lost their lives in the recent fatal car accident in Illinois undoubtedly left behind loved ones. Although nothing can bring back a lost life, the families of the decedents may be able to obtain at least some monetary reimbursement by successfully navigating a wrongful death lawsuit. Moreover, the seriously injured parties will have a similar right to pursue claims for personal injuries. These civil court legal claims would likely name the estate of the deceased man and any separate owner of the vehicle he was driving as defendants.
Source: wqad.com, “Illinois man and two nuns killed in bizarre weekend crash“, Shellie Nelson, Oct. 6, 2014