A man who was returning to the greater Charlotte area after visiting his new grandchild in another state died in a wrong way accident. The accident happened at daybreak on Interstate 85.
The other driver, a 19-year-old college student, slammed into the vehicle being driven by the man almost head on. At the time of the accident, the young woman was driving the wrong direction on the highway. The State Troopers who investigated the accident said that they suspect the woman had been drinking prior to the accident.
She now faces multiple felony charges. Allegedly, she behaved violently toward a nurse after being taken to a hospital.
The man’s wife, who was also in the vehicle, was able to give an interview with local news media shortly after the tragic accident. She said that she found her husband unresponsive when she tried to get him out of the vehicle following the wreck. The man died at the scene of the accident.
Drunk drivers should be held accountable for their actions
By now, anyone who takes to North Carolina’s roads should know two things about drunk driving.
First, it is extremely dangerous and can lead to tragic consequences, as well as to severe legal penalties.
Second, there are plenty of alternatives to drinking and driving, including asking a friend, calling for a rideshare or traditional cab or using public transportation. There is simply no excuse for drunk drivers.
While there is no doubt going to be more investigation into this tragedy, authorities at this point believe that the young woman responsible for this accident simply disregarded the many warnings against drunk driving.
The victim’s widow deserves full compensation for her losses, including compensation for items like lost income and funeral expenses. Additionally, punitive damages may be available in these circumstances.