What happened:
The number of traffic fatalities on the roads in Davidson County increased from 18 deaths in 2011 to 30 deaths in 2012.
In an interview with The Dispatch, First Sgt. B.D. Stalvey of the Highway Patrol said although there is no common denominator as the cause of all these accidents, the main contributing circumstances were exceeding safe speed and exceeding the speed limit. He also pointed out that alcohol and drugs contributed to seven out of the 30 accidents.
The breakdown of the accidents included two were pedestrians, five were passengers, and 10 were not wearing a seat belt. He said 13 of the accidents occurred on rural paved or secondary roads, 10 on state highways, four on U.S. highways and one on Interstate 85.
Troopers strongly urge drivers and passengers to always use their seat belts. They remind drivers to not follow too closely and not speed. And always have a designated driver. Sgt. Stalvey said that he is seeing a steady increase of drivers impaired just as much on prescription medication as on alcohol. “We are talking about teenagers up to adults that drive after taking prescription medication. Driving while impaired covers alcohol and drugs,” he said.
North Carolina Injury Lawyer Perspective:
We are saddened every time there is another report of someone losing their life in car accident. We reported last year on several of these deaths last year in Davidson County. A 30 year-old man riding his bicycle lost his life when he was hit by a drunk driver. In another fatal car crash, a young couple was killed when the car they were in veered off an overpass and fell more than 40 feet.
We hope that drivers heed the advice of the State troopers and slow down when driving, always wear your seat belts and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
I-85, Davidson County, N.C.
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