Three people were killed when the BMW they were in slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer. The accident happened on I-77, near Clanton Road, in Charlotte, at approximately 2 a.m. Monday morning.
According to North Carolina Highway Patrol, the BMW was traveling on the interstate at a high rate of speed – at some points in excess of 100 mph – when it hit the back of the tractor trailer. The impact caused the car to become pinned under the truck.
The driver of the truck told police he felt something as he was driving, but thought it was a flat tire on the truck. The truck driver continued to drive approximately 1,500 feet before stopping to check the tire, unaware that the BMW was being dragged under the truck.
All three people in the vehicle were dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured. Troopers say that the weather was not a factor in the fatal crash. They have not ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor.
Crews had to use a crane to lift the tractor-trailer off the BMW. Several investigators at the scene said it was one of the worst crash scenes they had seen for quite some time.
Police have not released details of which one of the dead victims was the actual driver or owner of the BMW. However, even based on just the limited details of the crash that law enforcement has released, the families of the two dead passengers should consult with an experienced North Carolina wrongful death attorney to find out what legal recourse they may have against the driver’s estate and insurance company. Although the loss of a family member can be emotionally devastating, the monetary loss a family may suffer along with the death of their loved one can be financially devastating, as well.