1 Child suffers personal injury, 3 family members die in accident

There is a growing concern about the number of vehicle accidents that occur on Missouri roads as the result of drivers who cross over the center line into the lanes of oncoming traffic. Every accident is different, and it is often difficult for investigators to determine the reason a driver crossed the median. Driver distraction may be the cause of many such car accidents, while drowsiness or intoxication is sometimes blamed.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol recently attended to such an accident on Highway 5 in Morgan County. The accident was reported to have occurred just after 1 p.m. when an 87-year-old southbound driver allegedly crossed over the center line into the northbound lane. An accident was unavoidable, and he smashed into an approaching SUV.

The driver of the SUV was transported to a regional hospital with moderate injuries while his passenger suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to another hospital. The driver who crossed the median was also airlifted but died just before 3 p.m. Although the media report made no mention of it, an investigation into the accident is likely underway.

Missouri residents who have been injured in car accidents that were caused by the negligence of another party may pursue the recovery of damages incurred. They retain the right to file a personal injury claim in a civil court, and in the event of the alleged negligent party’s death, the claim may be filed against his or her estate. Proper documentation of the negligence, along with a successful presentation of the claim, may result in a court awarding monetary judgment to cover medical and other damages as allowed by state laws.

Source: lakeexpo.com, “Head-on crash on Hwy 5 kills Kansas man“,  July 15, 2014