Accident on I-5 Near Market Street Caused by Wrong-Way Driver
A three-vehicle interstate crash in Redding on June 10 killed one person and injured another. The accident happened along Interstate 5 near Market Street around 9:18 p.m. and was caused allegedly by a wrong-way driver. A Bella Vista man, age 69, was going in the wrong direction in the southbound median of the interstate, as reported by California Highway Patrol (CHP) report.
Wrong-Way Driver Killed in Interstate Crash
When the driver crossed over into the lane going northbound, he crashed head-on with a vehicle driven by Shasta Lake resident Devyn Zeno Lewis, 51. The collision caused Lewis’ car to veer right, where it collided with a vehicle driven by a 38-year-old Clovis man, Gurtej Singh Sidhu. The wrong-way driver died at the accident scene, while the Shasta Lake man, who suffered major injuries, was transported to Mercy Medical Center.
Interstate Crash Being Investigated
The third man from Clovis was reportedly uninjured in the interstate crash. The CHP is investigating to determine why the accident occurred. It has not yet been stated whether alcohol or drugs was a factor in the multiple-vehicle collision.
Causes of Wrong-Way Accidents
Reckless and negligent behavior is usually the cause of a wrong-way collision. Common causes of wrong-way collisions include the following:
- Drunk or drugged driving or even both
- Speeding
- Distracted driving, such as texting or reading emails
- Driving while drowsy
Confusing Roadways Can Lead to a Serious Accident
A road’s design can contribute to a wrong-way interstate crash. Staying alert is important, especially after dark, which is when the majority of wrong-way drivers are out. Detours, poorly placed road signs, and inadequate lighting can fool a driver into entering a ramp going the wrong way and causing an interstate crash.
The government entity charged with roadway design and maintenance may be liable in these cases. Since the statute of limitations for filing a claim with a government entity is six months in California, asking for help from an injury lawyer may be a prudent idea.
Liability in an Interstate Crash
Although the answer to this may seem simple because the wrong-way driver would be liable, it may extend further than that. There are times when third parties can share the liability in an accident caused by a wrong-way driver, such as:
- As we mentioned above, if the design of the roadway may have contributed to the accident, the government entity may be liable. An injury lawyer can investigate the crash scene to determine this.
- The drivers of other vehicles involved in the accident may be liable themselves. Speeding, tailgating and other dangerous behaviors can cause other drivers to end up involved in the collision. When multiple vehicles are involved in a wrong-way crash, there are often other types of negligence involved.
- Construction zones along the roadway can contribute to this type of accident, especially if some roads are closed and work is being done on highway ramps. If drivers are not properly warned about detours, road closures, and construction lanes are confusing, the company or entity performing the work may hold some of the liability for a wrong-way accident.
Redding Personal Injury Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Redding personal injury lawyer. Accident injuries are unexpected and can leave someone who has been harmed with high medical expenses and other losses. When a negligent driver caused your trauma, you are welcome to call our injury lawyers for free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be contacted online. By arranging a free consultation online or in-person, you can have your case reviewed and discover what options there are to recover the compensation you deserve.
Our injury lawyers have ably assisted many people over the years in getting fair compensation following an accident, as you can see on the pages that follow:
Belonging to the associations that follow is a big honor for us:
Photo attribution: Image by Vladyslav Topyekha from Pixabay
:cd llo [700]