Strong Storms Lead to Falling Tree that Causes Fatal Crash

YORK COUNTY, SC- Wbtv.com writes that a driver died in a one-vehicle wreck this week when a tree fell onto the roadway. The incident took place in the early afternoon when the motorist was driving a 2010 Toyota SUV near Fort Mill.*

A tree fell and crushed the vehicle. Responders rushed the driver to a nearby hospital where he or she died a short while after the wreck. Police have not released the name of the victim. Strong storms are traveling through the region and have knocked over power lines and trees and damaged structures. 

While most crashes are caused by human errors, weather plays a role in many incidents every year. Rain is the cause of most weather-related incidents, largely because it is common in many parts of the country. Rainfall can lead to visibility problems for drivers, and wet roads make it take longer for cars to stop. Ice and snow also cause a large number of crashes each year, and occasionally heavy fog may lead to wrecks. 

Although the weather may be a contributing factor in car crashes, human error is still the leading cause of automobile accidents. When the weather makes the roads dangerous, it is important to slow down. Drivers who travel even the speed limit may find themselves in perilous situations when the roads are in bad shape. Police may also cite a driver for traveling too fast for road conditions, even when he or she is traveling at the posted speed limit or below. 

When the weather is extremely severe, the best course of action might be to stay off the roadway completely. In most cases, driving is not absolutely necessary. Staying safe might mean waiting out the weather. 

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.

Sources:https://www.wbtv.com/2020/02/06/driver-killed-by-falling-tree-york-county/ and https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm