Three Deaths Reported on Triangle Highway Related to Vehicle Breakdowns in Durham, North Carolina

Durham, NC- Wral.com writes that three people were killed this fall in crashes that occurred after their vehicles broke down on Triangle Highway. All three incidents involved the victims being killed while checking their vehicles. The most recent fatality took place when a 30-year-old woman was standing behind her 2000 Chevrolet Blazer at night. The victim was having car trouble and had pulled her vehicle into the right lane and turned on her hazard lights. Soon thereafter, a driver failed to stop and struck the woman.*

The driver fled the scene. Police point out that in many pedestrian accidents, the driver may not even be at fault. However, even if the driver was not liable for the accident, they face felony charges when they flee the scene.  In addition to the criminal penalties, leaving the scene of a crash can mean the victim is left with no help at all. Often the person best positioned to obtain emergency help is the person who struck the victim. 

Just weeks before this incident, a 33-year-old man was killed after changing his tire. The driver who struck him also fled the scene. In another recent fatal crash, a 35-year-old woman was hit and killed while standing next to her broken-down Ford Explorer. The driver who killed her was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. 

If your vehicle stalls or breaks down on a busy road or highway, it is important to be extremely cautious about exiting. In most cases, especially at night, it is best to remain in the vehicle, with your seatbelt fastened and to call for and wait for help to arrive. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.wral.com/three-drivers-hit-killed-in-two-weeks-after-vehicle-breakdowns/18675507/