Wrong Way Driver Hits Semi-Truck on I-40
Last month, the westbound lanes of I-40 were closed mid-afternoon in the middle of the week after a 43-year-old woman drove her black Dodge pickup the wrong way on I-40, causing a head-on collision on the interstate. The pickup struck a semi-truck, which in turn, struck an automobile carrier.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries resulting from the accident (which occurred just before exit 127 in Cumberland County), though the wreck necessitated the closure of the westbound lanes for at least seven hours.
According to NewsChannel5, the woman operating the Dodge pickup was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and for driving the wrong way on the interstate.
Most notably, perhaps, is that a family on their way to Nashville had a dash cam in their car and filmed the pickup as it zoomed past them in the left lane of I-40. On the video, available on YouTube, a red SUV swerves from the left lane to the right (immediately in front of the dash cam) to avoid a head-on crash.
“Somebody is going to get hit!” exclaim members of the family in the car containing the dash cam. Moments later, a male in the car says, “Look, it’s wrecked,” apparently looking back to see that a wrong way accident has occurred. “I see a wreck back there,” concurs a female, who adds, “I hope it didn’t hurt anybody.”
DUI, Wrong-Way Collisions
As we’ve noted several times in the recent past,wrong-way accidents are all-too-common in Nashville—and often fatal, as was the case in April of last year, when a 19-year-old drove the wrong way on I-440, killing a 25-year-old Ohio man, whose car was hit head-on.
Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of wrong way accidents are caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Also, it should be no surprise that wrong way accidents—and head-on collisions in general—are disproportionately deadly. Despite accounting for just two percent of all motor vehicle accidents, data suggest that more than ten percent of all fatal accidents are head-on collisions, which typically occur when a driver makes an unexpected “lane departure” or unsuccessfully attempts to pass a slower vehicle.
Common Injuries in Wrong Way Accidents
At Raybin & Weissman, our personal injury lawyers can sympathize with those who have been injured or have lost a loved one in a wrong way collision. We have represented numerous victims of wrong way accidents and head-on collisions. The list of injuries we’ve seen in these cases include:
- Broken bones
- Injuries caused by the deployment of airbags
- Brain and head injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Death
If You’ve Been a Victim of a Wrong Way Accident
Financial compensation in wrong way accident cases can include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain & suffering. But with alcohol or other drugs a common factor in wrong way collisions, we always recommend that victims consult with a law firm that has experience with both personal injury law and criminal law.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a wrong way collision, we offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us via our online contact form or call us at 615.256.6666. We serve Nashville, Davidson County, and the rest of the Nashville metropolitan area.
We also encourage you to download our one-sheet on 5 Critical Things to Know When You’ve Been in an Accident and keep it in the glove box of your car, pickup truck, or SUV. You’ll know doubt find it invaluable if you have the misfortune of being involved in an accident.