It’s a tragedy that is becoming more and more common. Drivers heading the wrong way, often on the interstate, crash into unsuspecting motorists. These accidents are often deadly and entirely preventable, something that can make it even harder to accept when a loved one is involved. The force of the collision when two vehicles heading the opposite direction come into contact with one another almost always results in catastrophic injuries. Such a crash just occurred in Mississippi, only a few days before Christmas. To learn more about the incident, keep reading.
The accident occurred in Madison, Mississippi and involved the driver of a 2016 Nissan Maxima who was hit and killed by the driver of a 2013 Passat. Police say the driver of the Passat was heading the wrong way down I-55 the night of December 22nd. Police got a call from a concerned driver saying that a vehicle was heading south in north bound lanes around 10 p.m. that evening. A second call came in a few minutes later; sadly it was to report a multiple car accident just inside the Madison city limits.
Police responded to the accident scene and were able to get additional information about what had occurred from witnesses to the crash. Several people reported that the Passat had been traveling southbound for several miles. Vehicles heading north (meaning they were going in the right direction) had been taking evasive action to avoid the oncoming car. Sadly, as the Passat got closer to Madison, it collided directly with the Nissan, which was unable to swerve in time.
Though the direct hit only happened to the Nissan, four other vehicles were involved in the accident. Two of the vehicles received only collateral damage and the passengers managed to avoid serious injury. Unfortunately, the driver of the Nissan wasn’t so lucky. Despite being airlifted to the UMMC for treatment of his injuries, he later died. The driver of the Passat was in critical condition following the wreck.
Police aren’t saying for sure what the cause of the accident is. They’ve revealed that the driver has been tested for alcohol and drugs and they are still awaiting the results. Though we don’t know for sure what happened here, it’s a good guess that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The vast majority of wrong-way collisions involve drivers who are in some way impaired, either due to alcohol or drugs. After all, getting on the interstate and driving the wrong direction for a long distance often requires more than mere confusion.
If you have been injured in a Mississippi car, motorcycle or tractor-trailer accident and think you may have a personal injury claim, please contact the Mississippi personal injury attorneys at Kilpatrick & Philley at 601-707-4669.
Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/12/22/madison-fatal-wrong-way-crash/95741940/