Elderly Woman Killed in Crash Identified as Wrong Way Driver
I’m Ed Smith, a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. An elderly woman who died recently in a highway accident in Thousand Oaks has been identified as a wrong way driver in the crash.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to Ms. Quinn’s family and friends as they grieve for her loss.
Details of the Accident
A Westlake resident, identified as Mariless Quinn, 88, died at the site of a wrong way crash on U.S. Route 101 in the area of the Westlake off ramp on September 14. According to a California Highway Patrol representative, a call came in at 3:19 reporting a vehicle traveling north on southbound 101. The silver Hyundai crashed into another vehicle less than a minute after the call was received. The southbound vehicle was said to be a BMW that was driven by a woman from Lake Balboa, 39. At this time, police have no idea how long Quinn was driving against traffic or where she entered the freeway. After the collision, the BMW remained in the left lane where it was traveling prior to the crash. The Hyundai left the highway, stopping in roadside vegetation.
Injuries in the Crash
The elderly woman passed away at the scene of the crash. Authorities said the BMW driver suffered moderate injuries and was taken by emergency responders to the Los Robles medical center for treatment. Officials have not provided additional information on the nature of her injuries.
Traffic Delays Due to the Crash
The CHP said that traffic was delayed on Highway 101 going south and extending to State Route 23 immediately after the crash. In order to investigate the collision and clear the highway of debris, both the far left lane and the lane leading to the exit for Westlake were closed until after 5:30 p.m.
Wrong Way Crash
Wrong way accidents where one vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction from traffic, do not happen as frequently as other types, but are among the most devastating. Wrong way driving results in the death of about 400 victims each year, according to estimates provided by the Federal Highway Administration. In fact, of all fatal crashes, wrong way collisions accounted for less than three percent.
Alcohol Use and Wrong Way Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration used Federal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data to determine how alcohol use impacted on wrong way driving. The data showed that drunk drivers accounted for 60 percent of wrong way accidents. In the study, drivers who had a blood alcohol concentration of between 0.08 and 0.15, 10 percent of the time while 59 percent had a level in excess of 0.15. In fact, nine percent of the intoxicated drivers had a conviction of drunk driving prior to an accident.
Injuries Common in Wrong Way Accidents
Drivers involved in wrong way accidents experience:
- Serious fractures
- Abdominal trauma
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Head and neck injury
Age and Wrong Way Driving
Overall, most wrong way drivers were aged 20 to 50. Age was a strong factor in those above 70. In the age group 70 to 79, wrong way drivers were 2 1/2 times more likely to drive against traffic, and in individuals age 80 and over, the number of wrong way drivers jumped 30 percent over the previous age grouping.
Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. Wrong way collisions are devastating for both those hurt in such crashes and the family members who lose a loved one. If you’ve been injured, or a family member has died, reach out to me for friendly advice that is free of charge. You can call me in Thousand Oaks at (805) 372-0200, or if you are outside the area, call me on my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400.
As an injury lawyer, I have helped California residents, including Thousand Oaks, obtain damages in wrongful death and traumatic injury, including those from brain injury.
If you want to learn more about my practice, check reviews by previous clients on Yelp, Avvo and Google pages. My Verdicts and Settlements page provides insight into prior cases and how I resolved them for my clients.
Trial lawyers in the Million Dollar Forum have achieved verdicts/settlements of $1 million or more. I am a California member of the group.
You can peruse autoaccident.com, the website I founded and own. It offers important information about different types of personal injury.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/technology-police-car-roof-2500010/
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