Alcohol and drugs impair one’s judgment and slows a person’s ability to respond and to operate a motor vehicle safely. Many times, these poor decision and reduced abilities become a factor in the deadliest type of crash, a head-on collision.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, head-on collisions make up only 2 percent of all crashes, yet they account for 10 percent of all traffic fatalities. One of the primary factors in many head-on collisions is that the driver was impaired at the time of the accident.
One Dead Four Injured in DUI Head-On Collision in Tulare County
An allegedly impaired driver drifted into oncoming traffic near Dinuba early Thursday morning, December 26, 2019. The driver of a Kia crossed the centerline and entered the eastbound lane of Avenue 384 and struck a Chevy head on. All four people in the Chevy were injured with one passing away.
Police found a controlled substance in the Kia and placed the driver under arrest. He was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital. The condition of all four injured in the accident were not known at the time of this report.
Rural Driving Dangers
Rural roads like those in Tulare County are the site of more accidents, deaths and injuries than urban roads, according to the NHTSA. One of the reasons for this is that country roads are often two-lane, undivided highways with a speed limit of 50+ miles-an-hour. When alcohol or drugs are added to these risks, the results can be devastating.
This means that when two cars pass each other from opposite directions, there are just a few feet of pavement—divided only by a yellow line—that separate the vehicles from a devastating head-on collision. There are many reasons a car drifts across the center line, some of the most common are:
- Impaired Driving
- Drowsy/Fatigue
- Distracted Driving
- Weather/Road Conditions
- Sun Glare
- Animal/Objects on Roadway
- Inexperience
Common Head-On Collision Injuries
A head-on collision is violent and causes serious injuries and property damage. The reason for this is that both cars hit each other in opposite directions adding to the force of the impact. Some of the most common injuries that come for a head-on collisions are:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Broken Wrists and Hands
- Broken Ribs
- Chest Compression Injuries
- Internal Organ Damage
- Deep Contusions
- Severe Lacerations
- Airbag Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer.
After an accident involving a serious injury in the Central Valley, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
