One of the first things that Georgia residents learn when operating a motor vehicle is to make sure that the vehicle is working correctly. This may include making sure that there is gas in the tank and that brakes, headlights and turn indicators are working properly. While this may sound silly, many drivers simply forget to inspect their vehicle to make sure that it is road worthy. That mistake could lead to a serious or fatal accident.
Recently, a 47-year-old woman was charged with homicide in the first degree after being involved in an accident in her new Dodge 1500 pickup truck near the Floyd County line. What happened next may seem strange. The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road with her headlights turned off. It is unclear if this was done intentionally or not.
Regardless, in doing so, the pickup was now facing opposing traffic and slammed into an oncoming Mercedes E350. When the two vehicles collided, a 55-year-old man who was a local pastor suffered fatal injuries. The crash also injured the driver of the pickup truck and a passenger from each vehicle. The survivors were transported to an area hospital, where they were treated for the injuries that they suffered in the accident. There is no report of their current conditions other than the fact that the driver of the pickup remained hospitalized.
The driver believed to have caused this fatal accident is currently facing charges of operating a vehicle without headlights, operating a vehicle while traveling in the wrong direction of travel and vehicular homicide in the first degree. The family of the deceased victim will surely follow the progress of Georgia prosecutors. They may also elect to commence a wrongful death claim against the accused woman. Any monetary awards granted after a successfully navigated civil claim may be used to help defray the costs associated with the loss of a loved one. The injured passengers may be entitled to file personal injury claims against the driver of the pickup truck as well.
Source: myfoxatlanta.com, “Rome pastor killed in fatal crash”, March 31, 2014