One person was killed and three others were injured in an accident involving four vehicles in Leon County on Jan. 6. One of the vehicles involved was a tractor-trailer.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the fatal car accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. on Interstate 45 about 2 miles south of Buffalo. A 39-year-old woman driving a Dodge Journey and travelling south on the interstate attempted to cross the median, forcing the three vehicles behind her to brake. The tractor-trailer, one of the vehicles that had to brake, then ran into the backs of the Dodge, a 1992 Buick Roadmaster and a 2001 Chevrolet Impala.
The driver of the Dodge suffered incapacitating injuries in the accident and was taken to St. Joseph Health Center in Madisonville. Her passenger, a 41-year-old Calvert woman, was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the Buick, a 62-year-old Marshall woman and the driver of the Chevrolet, a 36-year-old Franklin man, were also seriously injured and taken to St. Joseph Health Center and East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield, respectively. The only one not injured in the crash was the Houston man driving the tractor-trailer. It is unclear why the driver of the Dodge was attempting to cross the median.
In a case such as this, where it is unclear who the liable driver is, an injured victim or the family of a deceased victim might await the results of the police investigation to file a personal injury claim against the liable driver. The evidence from the police report as well as any charges brought against a driver in connection with the accident might be used to show that the liable driver was also negligent and directly responsible for the injuries or death of the victims. Successful claims might result in economic and non-economic damages.
Source: KWTX, “Central Texas Woman Dies In 4-Vehicle Interstate Crash”, Paul J. Gately, Jan. 7, 2015
