Wrong-Way Crash Kills Mother of 3

According to police, a head-on collision killed a woman in Western Pennsylvania on June 18. The Forward Township accident reportedly occurred on Route 68 at approximately 11:20 p.m. Police suspect that one of the drivers involved in the crash may have been deliberately traveling the wrong way on the highway.

A 38-year-old man was allegedly driving a Dodge Neon at excessive speeds when he entered into oncoming traffic on Route 68 and crashed into a Jeep Cherokee driven by a 36-year-old woman. Neither vehicle was carrying any passengers at the time of the collision, authorities said.

Police indicated that they were investigating whether the 38-year-old man intentionally caused the crash. According to police, shortly before the accident, the man left his ex-girlfriend’s house after an argument and then indicated that he might hurt himself during a phone call.

If evidence from this case were to indicate that negligent or reckless driving did in fact cause the fatal collision, then the driver responsible for that behavior may be held accountable for the incident not just criminally but also in civil court. That is because the people who suffer damage as a result of a car accident may be eligible to pursue civil action against the driver whose reckless or negligent behavior caused the crash.

For example, certain family members of deceased accident victims may retain a wrongful death attorney and file suit, seeking restitution for the damages they suffered in relation to the accident. These damages may include the expenses associated with the loved one’s funeral service, burial and estate administration. If successful, the bereaved family members may even be awarded financial compensation for lost earnings if the decedent had contributed income to dependents prior to death.

Source: The Reporter Pennsylvania , “Police: Western Pa. double-fatal crash may have been suicide”, June 19, 2014