On Aug. 13, a highway crash caused by a wrong-way driver resulted in three people being sent to the hospital. The car accident also led to several criminal charges being handed to the wrong-way driver. The Tennessee Highway Patrol reportedly charged the 61-year-old woman who was accused of causing the accident with second-offense driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and two counts of reckless aggravated assault.
The car accident happened along Interstate 26 in Kingsport and involved two vehicles. Sometime during the night, a 65-year-old man and his 60-year-old passenger were traveling westbound in a Lexus. When the man noticed the accused wrong-way driver coming towards him in a Chrysler PT Cruiser, he attempted to move into the next lane. The wrong-way driver moved over at the same time, and the vehicles collided near exit 4.
The two occupants of the Lexus and the driver of the PT Cruiser were all transported to Holston Valley Medical Center. Police have reported that all three of their injuries were minor. The Kingsport Fire Department, the Kingsport Life Saving Crew and the Kingsport Police Department all responded to the crash scene. An investigation into the accident continued after the preliminary report from THP.
Many people who are injured in an accident by a wrong-way or drunk driver choose to seek compensation for their injuries. During the process of pursuing a claim, a plaintiff will likely have to face representatives from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider in court. An accident injury attorney might be able to help a victim to pursue the true value of their claim rather than the fractional settlement that many insurance providers will push for.
Source: WJHL, “3 injured in wrong way I-26 crash in Kingsport; names released by THP“, Ted Overbay, August 15, 2014