Turlock Wrong-Way Accident on Highway 99
I’m Ed Smith, a Turlock car accident lawyer. A head-on crash caused by a wrong-way driver in Turlock on May 21, 2017 caused injuries to four people. The victims of the crash have not yet been identified, and an investigation is ongoing as to cause.
What Happened?
An accident occurred along Highway 99 near where the road passes Main Street in Turlock at around 3:00 in the morning. A driver had gone onto the highway from the exit at Main Street but was headed in the wrong direction, where the driver hit another vehicle head-on. One person had to be removed from a vehicle by emergency personnel. Four individuals were transported to a hospital for medical care with injuries described as major to minor. It is unknown at the time of this report whether the consumption of drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.
Wrong-Way Accidents
Wrong-way accidents are one of the most catastrophic on the road today, particularly when it happens at highway speeds. The National Transportation Safety Board studied such accidents on access ramps and divided highways. It found that wrong-way accidents accounted for about three percent of all accidents. Yet, wrong-way accidents were fatal 22 percent of the time. The remainder involved serious injuries such as head trauma, spinal injuries and abdominal trauma.
Reasons Wrong-Way Accidents Happen
Several reasons for wrong-way accidents exist. Impaired driving due to drinking and drug use is a primary causative factor. In one study, out of 1,566 wrong-way crashes, 60 percent or 936 drivers were impaired. Of the impaired drivers involved in wrong-way collisions, 9 percent were convicted of previous drunk driving charges in the three years prior.
Age of Wrong-Way Drivers
According to the NTSB, the largest number of wrong-way drivers occurred between the ages of 20 and 50. Above 50 but below 70, the number decreased every ten years. The use of alcohol is greatest in the younger age groups with 65 percent of those 20-39 testing positive for alcohol use.
Entrance Points
Of all wrong-way accidents studied, the majority occurred after entering from an exit ramp. Other sources occur when drivers use an emergency turn space in the median.
Remaining Characteristics
Most wrong-way crashes happen in the hours between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The weekends account for the majority of wrong-way crashes. Of all lanes on the roadway, the lane nearest the median is usually involved.
Attorney Ed Smith
Turlock Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith and I am a Turlock car accident lawyer. Wrong-way drivers can cause serious injuries or fatalities due to reckless driving. A death caused by a wrong-way driver may cause great financial and emotional upset for the family. If you’ve been injured by a wrong-way driver or have lost a family member to one, call me at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. My advice is free and always friendly. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit will help remove the added stress from trying to cope financially.
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Photo Attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Californiaofframpwrongwaysignage.jpg courtesy of coolcaesar
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