If you drive northwest of Monticello for about two hours, you will arrive in Kentucky’s Hart County. The sparsely populated area was recently the site of a violent motor vehicle crash that took a life. Eight other people were treated for injuries after the wreck on Interstate 65.
Kentucky State Police said a 40-year-old passenger in an SUV was killed after she was ejected in the wreck. Like far too many crash victims, she was pronounced dead by officials right beside the highway.
Officials said that an initial investigation has determined that the driver of the Chevrolet SUV that the woman was riding in lost control of the vehicle. The SUV went off the right side of the interstate, hit the guard rail, and then careened back into fast-moving southbound traffic.
The SUV then collided with a pick-up truck and was then struck by a tractor-trailer. The 18-wheeler then hit a Jeep, officials said.
The Chevrolet SUV’s driver was taken to a nearby hospital along with three juvenile passengers. All four were treated for injuries and released.
We don’t know yet why the Chevrolet’s driver lost control, but we do know that in many similar situations, one or more of the following were involved:
- Speeding: excess speed reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to sudden changes in traffic and road conditions and makes it much more difficult to maintain vehicle control when taking evasive action to avoid a collision.
- Distractions: texting, checking GPS, eating, looking at a phone – the list of dangerous distractions is almost endless. The bottom line is that distractions take driver attention off of the road and other vehicles.
- Impairment: drunk and drugged driving alter perceptions, diminish judgment and slow reflexes.
- Recklessness: aggressive lane changes, tailgating, cutting off other vehicles, road rage, etc. All driving behaviors that dramatically increase the chances of being in a crash.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a negligent driver, contact a Monticello attorney experienced in obtaining justice and compensation in personal injury litigation.
