Wrong Way Accident in Sacramento Sends Four to Hospital
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A wrong way driver caused a traffic collision on August 7 along eastbound Interstate 80 that resulted in multiple injuries in North Sacramento. Four individuals were hospitalized. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), it took about an hour and a half to clear the highway for traffic. The incident was reported by a caller who said that they saw the vehicle get on the freeway when the driver entered from the off ramp.
Accident Details
The crash happened around 6:38 in the evening just west of the eastbound Madison Avenue off ramp when a Chevy Silverado pickup, driven by a 22-year-old man, exited Madison and cut across all the lanes in the wrong direction. While the driver was in the number one lane westbound, he tried to turn, according to a CHP officer and was struck broadside by a Toyota 4Runner, which had three persons inside. Both vehicles sustained major damage.
Multiple Individuals Injured in the Collision
According to the CHP, four individuals were transported to a hospital for injuries caused by the collision. One was identified as a little girl, age six, whose injuries are life-threatening. Two children, ages six and eight were injured, along with their father, who was driving the Toyota. The driver of the Chevy also received minor injuries. Authorities investigating the accident believe the wrong way driver was intoxicated at the time of the collision. Although he received minor injuries in the collision, it was not reported whether he was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. A phlebotomist was called to the scene to take a blood sample, and the wrong way driver was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI.
What to Do When Faced With a Wrong Way Driver
Although some accidents are unavoidable, there are actions a driver can take when they see another vehicle driving in the wrong direction. These include:
- Remain alert when night driving because this is when a wrong way driver is most likely to enter a road going in the direction opposing traffic.
- Always wear a seat belt. Not only is it the law, but being belted in can lessen the risk of serious injuries or deaths.
- Keep to the slow lane. Because wrong way drivers don’t realize what they are doing, they will automatically enter what they believe is the slow lane. Instead, it is the fast lane they are entering.
- Keep scanning the road ahead to look for headlights coming toward you. This is important both on highways and on one-way streets.
- Pull over to the shoulder, and phone police if you see a wrong way driver on the road. In many instances, the police can stop the vehicle before a collision occurs.
What Causes Wrong Way Driving?
The National Transportation Safety Board reports that driver error causes 94 percent of all types of car accidents. Some of the characteristics of wrong way drivers include the following:
- Drunk driving causes most wrong way collisions. Of the wrong way drivers tabulated, 59 percent had a BAC level of at least 0.15 percent.
- Most accidents with wrong way drivers happen after dark, with the highest percentage (31) occurring after midnight and before 3:00 a.m.
- Most wrong way driving accidents occur in the fast lane. This is because the wrong way driver thinks he or she is actually in the slow lane.
- Weekends are common times when wrong way drivers cause collisions. This can be caused by weekend drinking on the part of the driver and result in severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage.
- Drivers entering exit ramps cause the most wrong way driving accidents. However, these types of collisions also occur from making a u-turn when the driver realizes his or her error or from cutting across the median strip.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. If a collision with a negligent driver has happened to you or someone you love, there may be high medical bills, time away from work and other expenses. As an experienced injury lawyer, I can offer you free and friendly legal advice. Give me a phone call at (916) 921-6400 locally or (800) 404-5400. I can also be reached online at my website by using our contact form.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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