Head-On Collision Tragically Kills One in Catawba County, North Carolina

CATAWBA COUNTY, NC- Wsoctv.com writes that a man died in a head-on collision after his car caught fire in Catawba County. The incident took place during the morning on Sulphur Springs Road. Police stated that the driver operating a Mercedes veered over the centerline and collided head-on with a BMW SUV. The Mercedes overturned and then ignited.*

Witnesses attempted to get the driver out of the burning car, but the flames prevented their efforts. The victim was identified as a 34-year-old man. 

The driver in the BMW was rescued, and responders transported him to the hospital. The incident led to the roadway being closed for several hours while police investigated. According to the police, speed was a factor in the incident. However, investigators are trying to determine whether any other factors contributed to the car drifting over the centerline. 

While head-on collisions are typically severe crashes, they can happen fairly easily in cases where drivers are traveling on a roadway that is divided by nothing more than a painted line in the road. It takes little more than a momentary distraction for the driver to enter oncoming traffic and lead to a devastating impact. 

When it comes to these wrecks, speed is a major factor in whether or not the crash becomes fatal. At just 43-miles-per hour, the chances of a head-on collision becoming deadly are high. Road design should consider this, and speed limits should be capped at 40 miles per hour on roads that lack any form of median or barrier. Of course, there are many roads that have high-speed limits, and nothing to prevent a car from entering oncoming traffic. 

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.wsoctv.com/news/local/driver-killed-when-mercedes-catches-fire-after-head-on-crash-catawba-county/7AEAAKKMNBBSBKC2QTFIOP3F7U/?outputType=amp and https://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/how-to-survive-a-head-on-collision-slow-down-to-below-43mph/