Driving in the winter requires extra care and caution. Snow and ice on roadways cause a loss of traction and increase stopping distance. Most people either adjust their driving style when driving in adverse conditions or just avoid it altogether. When living in an area that has frequent snow, like much of Colorado, some people become complacent and stop being as careful as they were at the beginning of the season. This loss of caution often leads to a car accident – sometimes with grave consequences.
Winter road conditions appear to have contributed to a crash recently that took the life of a Colorado woman. Around 4:30 p.m. a truck traveling southbound on Highway 131 lost control on the icy road and crossed into the northbound lanes, hitting an SUV. The head-on crash badly mangled the truck, requiring firefighters to extricate at least two of the occupants. One passenger was freed using hand tools, but another had to be removed using hydraulic tools.
Three people were taken to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening conditions. Those were the 30-year-old male who was driving the truck, a 33-year-old female passenger in the truck, and the female driver of the SUV. A 30-year-old female passenger in the truck suffered blunt force trauma to the head and passed away in the accident. The occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts.
It has not yet been determined if any charges will be filed in the crash. Posted speed limits on Colorado roadways are for dry, clear roads, so when road conditions are altered by rain, snow or ice, speeds have to be reduced. If the driver of the truck was speeding, driving too fast for the weather conditions, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he could be held responsible. Victims in the car accident, including the surviving family of the deceased victim, can seek a judgment for monetary damages by pursuing a civil lawsuit with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed
