3 dead, 1 hurt following Pennsylvania car accident

A wrong-way crash has left three people dead and a third hurt in Luzerne County, according to local sources. Pennsylvania authorities responded to the car accident around 6:30 on the morning of April 3. The driver deemed responsible for the crash was killed in the accident, so no charges have been filed. 

The accident report states that a 59-year-old man was driving his family — his 58-year-old wife and their 24-year-old son — on Interstate 81 when the accident happened. A vehicle traveling the wrong way on the interstate, driven by a 24-year-old man, struck their car head on. The resulting accident killed the wrong-way driver. 

The wife and son were also killed in the crash. The driver of the struck vehicle was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries, where he is described as being in fair condition. It is unclear whether police have determined what caused the deceased man to travel the wrong way on a major highway, but they have not ruled out drug or alcohol intoxication. It seems likely a toxicology report will be part of any continuing investigation into this tragic accident. 

Even if police find no evidence to suggest the driver was intoxicated, driving the wrong way on a clearly marked highway is still a violation of the law, making the deceased man responsible for the car accident. Under Pennsylvania law, the surviving driver will be entitled to file wrongful death suits on behalf of his family members, as well as a personal injury suit on his own behalf, against the estate of the driver and anyone else with ownership interest in the vehicle involved. Such a suit would not require a criminal conviction or even a living defendant. 

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: timesunion.com, “Two Greenville residents killed, one injured in Pa. car crash“, Claire Hughes, April 6, 2015