A Ford Ranger carrying four passengers was hit by another vehicle and propelled into oncoming traffic on I-70 in West Virginia (WV). The Ranger was then hit by a tractor trailer causing a major wreck. Three of the passengers died at the scene and one passenger was seriously injured. The root cause of this tragic car wreck was allegedly road rage, according to wtov9.com.
The driver of the other vehicle that hit the Ford Ranger apparently knew the passengers well and there was an “altercation” prior to the fatal accident. The driver is now facing five charges including leaving the scene of an accident and malicious assault.
It’s so frustrating to hear about these types of accidents. This incident may have been avoided if cooler heads prevailed. Sadly, road rage took over and now three people are dead. To make matters even worse, the three people killed – Steven Carpenter, Justin Wright, and Brittney Lynn Kusic – were in their 20s and had their whole lives ahead of them. My deepest condolences go out to their friends and family. Ashley Wright, the individual who suffered serious injuries, is only 23 years old, and could face months or, even years, of physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Road rage has been a traffic safety issue for years. One half of all drivers admit they respond aggressively if confronted with another aggressive driver, according to roadandtravel.com. Two percent of drivers even admitted they’ve tried to run the aggressor off the road.
I understand the inclination to get angry if a driver cuts you off or is riding your tail on the highway, but letting road rage consume you is not the answer. If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road, remember to take three deep breaths and ask yourself, “is escalating this really worth it?” The answer is probably no. Trying to get even with another driver just creates more problems and puts you (along with every other driver on the road) at risk for a major car accident.