17-year-old dies in Pennsylvania car accident

A state park was forced to close unexpectedly on the afternoon of June 6 following a fatal crash, according to local sources. Pennsylvania State Police closed Presque Isle State Park after a car accident killed a 17-year-old boy and sent a 21-year-old man to the hospital. For the moment, police have not charged the driver, but their investigation is ongoing. 

The accident report says the vehicle, being driven by the 21-year-old, was traveling westbound when the driver lost control. The car left the road and struck a tree with enough force to split the car completely in half. The 17-year-old male passenger, who has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. 

The driver suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital. It does not appear that either individual was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Police suspect the driver may have been speeding, a factor that could well have contributed to the accident, but they have not charged the man with a crime as of this report. 

If Pennsylvania police secure evidence of the driver traveling at unsafe speeds, precipitating the car accident, he could face criminal charges once he is released from the hospital. Even if no criminal charges are filed or no conviction is obtained, the family of the deceased minor will still be able to file a wrongful death suit against him under state law. This suit can make use of any evidence of speeding uncovered by police to bolster the claim in civil court. 

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: erietvnews.com, “Presque Isle Closed Saturday After Fatal Accident”, Justin Carter, June 6, 2015