Wrong-Way Driver Falls Off Freeway
A car accident can have various outcomes. Some are minor, while others are major. When they happen on overpasses, the impact of the crash can cause a vehicle to fall off the freeway and come crashing down below.
This scary scene is what recently happened in Houston. A wrong-way driver was hit by a semi truck, causing their car to fall off the freeway. The crash happened in the early morning hours of June 16 on the connecting ramp between US-290 inbound and the North Loop. That connecting ramp was still closed that evening.
The driver of a car was going the wrong way when the driver, a 27-year-old woman, suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. That’s when the semi truck collided with the vehicle. The impact caused the car to fall 18 feet off the freeway.
The car landed in a grassy median below. The car was mangled, with first responders having to cut the woman free from the vehicle. She was in very bad shape when she was loaded into an ambulance. She was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
Investigators believe the woman was coming from the downtown area. The connecting ramp was closed for at least the rest of the day as crews cleaned up the oil that leaked from the 18-wheeler.
Detectives with the Houston Police Department are still investigating the cause of the crash. They believe the woman may have been intoxicated. The driver of the truck was not seriously injured and did not show any signs of impairment.
Wrong-Way Driving
Wrong-way crashes are often catastrophic or fatal, as they tend to occur at high speeds and are often head-on accidents. They can happen at any time, although they are more common when it’s dark outside. Keep in mind that wrong-way drivers often drive in the far left lane. That’s because wrong-way drivers think your fast lane is their slow lane. You just have to think about it in a reverse state of mind.
What this means is that as a driver, it’s a good idea to stay to the right. You should also keep your gaze out ahead of you. Stay alert and refrain from being distracted. You should definitely avoid being on your phone or doing anything else that can cause you to lose focus of the road. If it’s safe to do so, you should pull over and call 911. If you’re near a freeway exit, that’s the perfect time to get off the road and out of harm’s way.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Car crashes can have a variety of outcomes. When a driver is traveling in the wrong direction, the impact from an oncoming vehicle can have devastating results.
Contact a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC if you have been involved in a crash. You need legal advice during this time and we’ll be happy to guide you through the process. Schedule a free consultation with our office by filling out the online form or calling 281-347-3247.
Source:
abc13.com/wrong-way-crash-driver-crashes-into-18-wheeler-car-drives-off-us-290-collision/13389681/