Fatal Crash Kills One, Injures Another in Portsmouth

An SUV heading the wrong direction on the highway caused a deadly accident in Portsmouth on Sunday, January 17th, 2015 .

The crash occurred late on a Saturday evening when the driver of a black Ford Escape was heading east on the westbound lane of I-64 in Portsmouth. Concerned drivers called authorities to report the driver, but by the time emergency personnel could respond, it was too late. The SUV collided with a PT Cruiser. Fire crews worked to rescue both drivers, but sadly, the driver of the SUV died in the accident. The driver of the PT Cruiser was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Police are still investigating the incident.

Our hearts go out to the families of both victims, and we send best wishes to the young driver still recuperating in the hospital. He was very lucky to survive. Wrong way crashes are some of the most deadly kinds of accidents, with hundreds of lives claimed in accidents like this one each year. Because of the head-on collision nature of wrong way accidents, the victim of this crash is lucky to have survived. Experts estimate that 22% of wrong way crashes are fatal, compared to just .3% for overall car accidents in the same period.

Drunk drivers, drugged drivers and elderly drivers are the most frequently responsible for wrong way crashes like this one. When people get confused by or ignore street signs, wrong way driving is bound to occur.

Given the late hour of this crash and likely a lack of visibility, alcohol would have only made a bad situation worse.  We hope to have more answers about the cause of this crash soon.

Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have legal rights. For over 29 years, our Virginia personal injury lawyers have represented victims and their families. If you you’d like to speak with our office about your situation, contact us to setup a free consultation 877-544-5323.