A terrible three car-accident in east Charlotte, NC left two people dead and six others injured. The accident happened early Sunday morning according to police. Police say that a car filled with four people hit an SUV head-on. Two people in that car, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old died from their severe injuries. According to officers, the accident happened early Sunday morning after the car, a 2005 Chevy Malibu, collided with a 2002 Honda Odyssey then crossed the double yellow line on Eastway Drive and smashed into the oncoming SUV, a Ford Explorer.
Police say the force of the impact with the Explorer caused the Chevy Malibu to roll on its roof and all four passengers to be ejected from the vehicle. Police officers are not yet sure if any of the occupants of the Malibu were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and say an investigation is ongoing.
Two of the occupants of the Malibu who survived the crash are still in the hospital at Carolinas Medical Center recovering from their injuries. Police say a 15-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 7-year-old in the Odyssey received minor injuries along with the driver of the Explorer, but all are expected to be okay. Police say it’s too soon to know if anyone will be charged criminally, but say they have ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash.
As this case perfectly illustrates, head-on accidents are among the deadliest variety of car crashes. Accidents involving such direct collisions are almost always devastating. The fact is that two vehicles moving against one another create far more deadly force than in accidents where vehicles move in either the same direction or where one vehicle is stationary.
If you’re considering reaching out to a North Carolina wrongful death attorney, make sure it’s someone who has experience handling such difficult and emotionally trying cases. My firm handled one case where our client was killed by the driver of a tractor-trailer, leaving his wife and four children behind. In that case, we were able to secure a $2.4 million settlement for the family. Though the money does not help to heal the pain left after the man’s death, it helps provide some much needed money to a devastated family.
If someone you love died due to the reckless or negligent behavior of another person, you’re likely confused about how to begin the process of holding the at-fault party responsible for his or her behavior. For more information on the process, you can also read through my firm’s guide on the wrongful death claims process in North Carolina by clicking here.
Here’s a Google Map showing the location of the accident:
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