An innocent person died and two other drivers suffered injuries when a wrong-way driver set off a chain-reaction crash on the Inner Loop of I-485 in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC). The fatal wreck occurred near Providence Road a little after 2 am on March 20, 2016.
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Highway Patrol investigators determined that the at-fault driver had been heading into oncoming traffic “for miles” before colliding head-on with the vehicle in which the other person lost his life. One of the drivers who survived the pileup sideswiped the at-fault driver’s car, and the other hit debris thrown from the wreckage.
It was not clear why the wrong-way driver used an exit ramp to get onto the interstate. Common explanations for such negligent or reckless acts include being drunk, getting lost and becoming confused. Two other recent wrong-way head-ons on I-485 have been blamed on alcohol use, and toxicology tests are being performed on the person who caused this most recent accident.
The family of the innocent deceased driver and the injured drivers appear to have strong grounds for filing wrongful death and personal injury claims against the insurance policy held by the at-fault driver. Even though that individual also died from injuries incurred in the crash, any insurance he had will remain in effect until claims are adjudicated. Working with a Carolina attorney who has advocated for other victims of head-on collisions could help ensure that the claims succeed.
EJL