Deadly Head-On Collision Near Ice House Road
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, a woman was killed when the 2017 Jeep Cherokee that she was driving crossed the double yellow lines on Highway 50 near Ice House Road and collided with a semi-truck. It was reported by witnesses of the deadly head-on collision that the Cherokee had been traveling at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.
The deceased driver has been identified as 45-year-old Diane Martini, from Ukiah, California. She had been driving her Jeep eastbound on 50 and had just completed a curve at a high rate of speed when her vehicle drifted into the westbound lane. The curve that she had just exited had cautionary speed signs posted warning of a 30 mph speed limit.
Traveling westbound on the same stretch of highway was 39-year-old Michael Tillman, from Humble, Texas. Mr. Tillman was operating a 2012 Volvo Tractor, which was pulling a flatbed trailer. He did not have sufficient time to avoid the head-on collision. The impact sent the Cherokee into a guardrail, and the Volvo truck veered to the right and crashed into a dirt embankment.
Ms. Martini was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Tillman was taken by ambulance to Marshall Hospital for evaluation.
The Dangers of Curvy Roads
Highway 50 has lots of twists and turns. A large portion of it is two-lane. This combination can result in a deadly head-on collision. Curvy mountain roads require caution and a driver’s full attention. Steering through curves can be tricky, and if taken too fast, can cause a loss of vehicle control. There are a number of things to keep in mind as you navigate highway curves. We will review some of those things in the following section.
Safety Tips for Navigating Curves
It helps to understand why curves in the road are dangerous. When a car goes around a curve, the vehicle’s tires are moving forward due to acceleration at the same time the body of the car is experiencing inertia. These two conflicting forces can cause the car to go into a dangerous skid. Keep the following in mind when navigating curves in order to stay safe:
- The number one safety tip for navigating curves is to slow down. The majority of curve-related accidents could have been prevented had the speed of the vehicle been reduced. Speed should be reduced on approach to the curve, so look out for signs warning that curves are ahead and obey the cautionary speed limits.
- Execute subtle turning. On approach, move your vehicle to the side of the lane that is opposite the curve direction, which helps to reduce the severity of the turn and the resulting risk of a skid.
- Accelerate coming out of the curve. Do not start accelerating too early; wait until you are on a straightway.
If your vehicle begins to skid, there are a few things you can do to regain control:
- Take your foot off the brake and gas pedals immediately. Neither will help, and they could make the skid worse.
- Keep your hands loose on the steering wheel, and do not make sudden steering motions, which may cause an overcorrection.
- Once the vehicle has begun to slow, lightly apply the brakes and slowly steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a clip with tips for maintaining vehicle control on curvy roads.
Placerville Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Placerville, California. The aftermath of a serious car accident can be devastating for the injured person, or for family members who have lost a loved one due to wrongful death. If you have suffered due to the negligent actions of another driver, please reach out to our injury lawyers for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or from outside the area, toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
To learn more about the quality of our legal representation, please have a look at our reviews, linked below:
Photo: pixabay
mm llo [cs 698]