Recently, a 54-year-old man was traveling in the westbound lanes of a busy Texas parkway when something went wrong. According to reports, he lost control of his truck, striking a concrete guardrail. This caused his vehicle to rebound back to the left, entering the median and hitting a metal guardrail. The collision with the guardrail sent the truck airborne and into the eastbound lanes and oncoming traffic. Seven vehicles were involved in the resulting car accident.
The parkway was littered with damaged cars and debris and was closed in both directions for hours. Two people were killed in the crash, a 66-year-old woman whose car was first struck by the airborne vehicle and a 78-year-old veteran in the second car. Five others were injured and taken to a hospital, including the driver who caused the accident.
It is unknown why the man lost control of his truck. He claims he doesn’t remember what happened. He says he has a history of seizures. According to police, he was cooperative and responsive following the accident, although the possibility of impairment isn’t being ruled out.
The driver was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the accident as a condition of his release after posting bail for an incident in another Texas county last year. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault after he allegedly used a Taser, gun and zip ties to unsuccessfully abduct a woman from a cemetery. A second woman also reported something similar happening to her at the same cemetery last year. The man reportedly had just left the probation office prior to the deadly crash.
The details of the horrible car accident will continue to be investigated, and at this time no charges against the man have been filed. Regardless of any criminal charges he receives, the victims of the crash may file civil claims against him. An attorney can guide the surviving victims in their pursuits of personal injury claims and can assist the families of the deceased in seeking wrongful death compensation. A knowledgeable attorney can work with each victim and determine what type of claim applies to his or her situation and how best to pursue it.