What happened:
A crash involving a tractor-trailer has left several people seriously injured, one of them critically. The accident occurred on the southbound lanes of I-95, in Wilson County, between mile markers 115 and 116.
A passenger van with six people had run out of gas and the driver had pulled over into the emergency breakdown lane. Three of the passengers had exited the van and were walking away to get gas when the accident happened.
According to a report in the Wilson Times, the driver of the tractor-trailer reached down to grab his cup of coffee and when he looked back up, he had already drifted into the breakdown lane. The tractor-trailer smashed into the left side of the van and pushed it into the guardrail. The van burst into flames.
After the impact, the tractor-trailer tumbled over an embankment, also bursting into flames. The fire from the vehicle also caught onto nearby trees. The three people in the van were transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. The driver of the tractor-trailer declined medical treatment.
The tractor-trailer driver has been was charged and arrested for careless and reckless driving, He was taken to the Wilson County Detention Center and placed on $3,000 bond. Police said alcohol and speed were not factors in the crash.
North Carolina Injury Lawyer Perspective:
This accident is an unfortunate example of just how dangerous distracted can be. We’ve reported on several incidents in the past that were the results of a driver not fully focused on the road, such as this recent report of a distracted driver who slammed into a school bus. The statistics of distracted drivers in North Carolina are shocking.
As this terrible accident shows, just a split second of reaching for a cup of coffee can have tragic consequences when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle. If you’ve been injured in a car accident because of someone else’s carelessness, contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to.
I-95, Wilson County, NC
Helpful Info:
To learn about what types of damages are available through a personal injury claim, take a moment to read this article which discusses the possibility of obtaining damages to compensate for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Have Questions?
FAQs on what to do if you’ve suffered a serious injury in an accident