A 26-year-old woman was drunk when she abandoned her crashed vehicle on a westbound lane of Interstate 30, which led to a fatal motorcycle crash, according to the Grand Prairie Police Department. The motorcycle accident took place at about 2:00 a.m. and left a 35-year-old motorcyclist dead, police reported.
Allegedly, the 26-year-old woman was driving westbound on I-30 when she lost control of her vehicle in the vicinity of Belt Line Road and struck the highway’s center barrier. The woman and two passengers from the sedan then left the wrecked car in the left westbound lane of the highway with no lights on to warn approaching motorists of its presence, police said.
The motorcyclist struck the disabled vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. One of the two passengers was reportedly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries suffered during the collision between the sedan and the center barrier. Police stated that the 26-year-old woman was impaired at the time of the incident, but it was not reported how officers arrived at that conclusion. Police detained the woman and charged her with intoxication manslaughter.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 429 people were killed in motorcycle accidents during the year 2010. Reckless and negligent drivers are often the cause of fatal motorcycle accidents. When that is the case, the victims’ families may be entitled to file a wrongful death suit against the drivers responsible for the incident. Through this type of civil action, victims’ families may receive financial compensation for damages suffered as a result of the fatal accident, including loss of inheritance rights, loss of gifts that the decedent had promised to bestow, loss of income and financial support contributed by the decedent and even loss of companionship.
Drinking And Driving: A Deadly Combination
In a 2011 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69 percent of people ages 18–64 admitted to using a cellphone while driving. While many feel making calls on the road is safe, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows that more than 3,000 people are killed each year as a result of distracted driving, including in car accidents involving cellphones.
Bicycling is more than just a pastime for many people. The movement toward green living and the rising costs of gasoline make bicycles a popular alternative method of transportation. While there are many benefits to cycling, the activity also comes with risks — including the potential for bike accidents.