Child is Killed, Three Critical After Head On Crash in Albemarle County, VA

Head on crashes are among the most serious kinds of accidents we deal with in Virginia because they involve a considerable degree of force and speed.

I was saddened to read about a crash that claimed the life of a young boy and critically injured three other people in Albemarle County in Virginia on Monday morning.

Police officers said the accident happened around 6:40 a.m. when a Ford Expedition SUV crossed a center line on Route 231, near Klockner Road, and struck a Nissan Altima with four people inside. The accident killed a young boy who was riding in the Nissan.

Investigators said the driver and a passenger of the Nissan were flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville after the accident with critical injuries. The fourth person in the Nissan was taken by ambulance, and also suffered critical injuries. The driver of the Expedition was taken by ambulance to the UVA Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The road was closed for hours after this crash as the accident was investigated. It was finally opened just before 1 p.m. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Team, stated police.

My thoughts are with the family members of the child who died and those who were seriously injured.

Head on collisions cause a disproportionally high rate of deaths and injuries. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, nearly one in five deadly car accidents involve head-on collisions. Nearly three quarters of head-on crashes happen on undivided two lane rural roads which are common away from built up areas such as Hampton Roads.

Of 7,430 vehicles involved in head-on crashes on two-lane, undivided roadway segments in the study, just 4.2 percent involved a vehicle “passing or overtaking another vehicle.” Instead, most of these accidents resulted from one driver losing control their vehicle and crossing a center line.

Although drivers have to sometimes act quickly to avoid these kids of crashes, there are some things you can do to protect themselves from head–on collisions. Always remain well centered in your lane, where oncoming traffic is less likely to appear, and where you can get to the shoulder or the opposite side of the road fast. On multi-lane highways, the right lane is the safest lane.

When taking family trips, plan to drive in mornings and avoid night time driving when a higher percentage of impaired drivers are on the road. If a car veers into your lane, steer to the right to avoid a crash. Always wear your seatbelt. As always, defensive driving is vital.

If you have been hurt in a crash in Virginia by a driver who veers across a center lane or any other form of careless or reckless driving, you should call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at 757.455.0077.