Just before 8 p.m. on recent Monday, New York police were contacted about a driver heading north in a southbound lane on Interstate 87. Police located the wrong-way driver and attempted a traffic stop. However, the driver apparently accelerated instead of stopping, which prompted a chase.
As police pursued the vehicle, it struck an oncoming car. Sadly, the impact of the collision caused fatal injuries to one person and seriously injured another. Investigators are continuing to gather information about the tragedy.
Wrong-way drivers often cause fatal collisions
There are many possible reasons why a vehicle may be headed in the wrong direction on a New York highway. Sometimes, drivers have medical emergencies that cause them to lose control of steering. Usually, however, wrong-way collisions are caused by distracted or intoxicated drivers, or by those who have fallen asleep at the wheel.
No amount of money can replace the loss of a human life. Many New York families have been devastated to learn that a loved one was killed by the negligence of someone else on the road. In such cases, state law allows an immediate family member to seek financial recovery for damages, which may help alleviate financial distress associated with the incident, such as funeral expenses. A personal injury attorney can help a grieving family navigate the system to seek justice in memory of a loved one whose death was preventable and caused by another driver’s negligence.