A deadly single-vehicle crash on I-95 in Prince George County, Virginia (VA), left one dead and five others injured.
According to Virginia State Police, a Ford F-250 pick-up was travelling south when the driver, Claude Hogue of Quebec, Canada, ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected, and swerved into several trees before overturning. Hogue died at the scene. A 12-year-old was sent to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond with non-life-threatening injuries. Another teen and two adults were treated for minor injuries at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, VA. Our sympathy goes out to Hogue and his family and friends, and we wish a speedy recovery to the passengers.
State Police cited driver fatigue as a factor in the crash. Hogue was apparently traveling from Quebec to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (SC). As a Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA-based personal injury lawyer, I have seen many cases where driver fatigue during a long road-trip contributed to deadly car accidents. In fact, I have previously written about a commercial bus crash in Caroline County, VA, in which where 4 passengers were killed and dozens of other were injured after the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
I-95 is a dangerous stretch of highway. With more drivers on the road making long-distance trips to popular destinations during the summer, drivers should use extra caution when traveling on the highways. Always be aware of other drivers around you. If a nearby vehicle appears to be swerving or driving in an unsafe manner, use wise judgment and calmly change lanes or drop back a little to allow plenty of space and time to react should something go wrong. If your eyelids start to feel heavy, maybe it’s time to take a break from the road and find a stop to have a stretch and grab a beverage.
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