Around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, a head-on collision on Interstate 64 West killed three people, two females and one male. A woman from Ohio entered the Interstate near the East Mall Road overpass driving the wrong way. The Ohio car struck another vehicle being driven by a woman from Virginia.
Both women drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle from Virginia was removed from the wreck and transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center but later died from his injuries.
The professionals responding to the scene stated that the occupants of the vehicle from Virginia had to be removed from their car using specialized equipment. Car and engine parts were scattered over a 100-foot radius. The Interstate was closed until about 7 a.m.
In a situation where people are thought to be killed due to another person’s negligence, the family members of the victims may want to pursue a wrongful death suit. If it is found, for example, that the person driving the wrong way was intoxicated or driving in an inattentive manner, then the families would likely have grounds to bring a civil suit against the driver in order to be compensated for both emotional and financial losses due to the death of their loved-one. Wrongful death suits can be filed independent of any criminal charges. The judge will consider factors such as the decedent’s loss of potential income, the number and ages of any dependents and their role within the family. Consulting an attorney who is familiar with wrongful death due to a car accident may be a good source of support and guidance for the family members. An attorney may be able to determine the most appropriate course of action available in regard to a specific set of circumstances and may be a resource in a difficult and troubling time.
Source: WCHS, “Police Release Names Of Three Killed In I-64 Barboursville Wreck”, Kaylin E. Searles, December 05, 2014
