Passenger Died When an SUV Flipped in Gloucester County

Rollover accidents when the occupants of a car are ejected are the most lethal kinds of accidents on the roads of Virginia. This week, a passenger died when an SUV flipped over in Gloucester County.

We were saddened to read about this serious single vehicle crash. A police report suggested speed and alcohol were factors in the wreck on March 25.

Virginia State Police reported the crash shortly after 2:50 p.m. where Route 14 and Business 17 meet in the Courthouse area of Gloucester County.

A report from Virginia State Police stated a 24-year-old man was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer. The SUV was heading east on Route 14 when the driver lost control. He ran off the roadway. He overcorrected as he battled to regain control of the SUV. However, the vehicle flipped twice and ejected the back seat passenger.

The 26-year-old rear seat passenger was airlifted from the accident scene. Sadly, he died later the same day. Police identified him as Tremayne Safewright of Newport News, WAVY.com reported.

State police said charges were pending against the driver who caused the crash on Monday. Police consider excess speed, alcohol, and drugs factors in the wreck.

The other passengers included a woman and a child. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.

Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Safewright after this tragic crash. Far too many passengers are innocent victims are car crashes in Virginia.

Ongoing questions after this SUV flipped in Gloucester County include the speed of the Ford Explorer, and why the driver left the road. This model of Ford Explorer has a notorious reputation for rollover accidents.

Why Are Rollover Accidents Often Fatal in Virginia?

According to the Safercar.gov site maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollover accidents are more deadly than any other kind of a wreck.

They are a lot less common than T-bone accidents and rear-end collisions. However, drivers and passengers are more likely to sustain critical injuries in rollover crashes in Virginia and elsewhere.

Of more than 9 million car, truck, and van crashes every year in the United States, a mere 2.1 percent involved the vehicle flipping over. However, rollover wrecks amount to than 30 percent of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes. Every year, about 7,500 people lose their lives in rollover crashes on the highways of America.

People who fail to wear seatbelts are more likely to die in rollover crashes. Almost 70 percent of motorists who lose their lives in rollover crashes were not wearing a safety belt. People who are ejected from cars or trucks are more likely to be killed in rollover wrecks.

As many as 85 percent of rollover crashes are single vehicle wrecks. High-sided vehicles like pickups and SUVs are more likely to be involved in rollover crashes. In some cases, vehicle manufacturers can be sued for a defective design. Recently, Ford Motor Company was hit with a $151 million jury verdict over a rollover crash in a 1998 Ford Explorer that left Travaris “Tre” Smith paralyzed.

In many cases, police find a driver liable for a rollover accident. Cars often flip if a driver is traveling too fast for conditions or is tired or distracted. Rollover accidents usually occur at higher speeds. More than three-quarters are reported on highways where the posted speed limit is 55 mph or above.

Sadly, passengers are all too often the victims in rollover crashes. A passenger often has grounds to bring a personal injury suit against the driver who caused the crash. Family members of a dead passenger may bring a wrongful death case.

Bringing a Lawsuit over a Rollover Crash in Virginia

People who end up injured in rollover crashes or family members of deceased passengers should talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Virginia.

Claims can be brought against a driver who caused a rollover crash, another motorist, or a car or tire manufacturer.

These cases can be complicated, particularly if a defective vehicle design contributed to the rollover crash. Please talk to our experienced Virginia car crash legal team as soon as possible. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers represents clients across Virginia and further afield. Call us at (757) 231-6443.