Rollerblading Man Tragically Dies in Durham Crash

DURHAM- Newsobserver.com writes that a driver struck and killed a young man who was rollerblading in Durham over the weekend. The victim was traveling southbound on Old Oxford Road in the evening when a driver who was trying to pass an SUV crossed into the 24-year-old path striking him near Craven Street.*

The driver, identified as a 47-year-old man from Durham, was operating a Nissan Altima at the time of the crash. He was traveling northbound but crossed into the southbound lane in his attempt to overtake the vehicle in front of him.

Old Oxford Road has two lanes, and passing in the opposite lane is permitted. However, the police state that the driver was exceeding the speed limit when he hit the victim.

The driver is facing charges for speeding and for misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. 

The vast majority of tragic vehicle-related deaths are the result of human error. While vehicles are becoming safer all the time, the people behind the wheel often fail to take necessary precautions. Distracted driving is one of the major causes of deadly crashes, and it can involve something as momentary and seemingly harmless as changing a channel on a radio station. Exceeding the speed limit is another leading cause of accidents. When a driver travels over the speed limit, he or she is not only increasing the chance of being involved in a severe vehicle wreck, but also increases the chances of an accident resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. The higher the speed of a car, the more damage any accident will cause. 

While manufacturers can equip vehicles with detection technology and backup cameras, the onus is still on the driver to pay attention to the road ahead, and obey the traffic laws.

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.newsobserver.com/news/local/article236067003.html