Three passengers in a Toyota lost their lives when the car’s driver apparently pulled out in front of a tractor-trailer on Route 155 in New Kent County, Virginia (VA). The fatal accident occurred on the morning of April 8, 2014. One of the victims, who had not been wearing a seat belt while riding in the back seat, succumbed to wounds suffered when he was ejected from the vehicle.
Police charged the small car’s driver with reckless driving after an initial crash scene investigation revealed that the man failed to yield right of way to the semi when entering the rural state highway from a cross street. If you watch the video below closely, you can catch a glimpse of the stop sign the at-fault driver may have ignored.
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The man behind the wheel of the Toyota also suffered serious injuries, but the truck operator did not require medical treatment.
All drivers must exercise caution when merging onto or crossing a highway. Beyond respecting stop signs, people need to ensure that gaps between oncoming vehicles are wide enough to prevent collisions. As this tragic accident — and too many others my Virginia wrongful death attorney colleagues have seen — illustrates, not waiting for a safe window to enter or cut across highway traffic can have deadly consequences.
EJL