A Weekend of Deadly Wrong Way Car Accidents

Wrong way car accidents are horrific and too often are deadly or leave victims severely injured. This past weekend, there were two major wrong-way accidents that together claimed the lives of eleven people.

Many times, these accidents happen in the middle of the night and all too often drugs and/or alcohol is involved. These drivers may also be going at high speeds when they either lose control and end up on the wrong side of the road or are so wasted that they don’t even realize where they are driving.

In one of this weekend’s accidents, a Ford Expedition traveling the wrong way on a Florida interstate crashed into a Hyundai Sonata, killing five people, including 4 Sigma Beta Rho fraternity brothers at the University of South Florida. It was unclear if alcohol was involved, according to highway patrol officers.

On the opposite coast in Diamond Bar, California, another wrong-way accident claimed six lives. Police arrested the 21-year-old driver, Olivia Carolee Culbreath, on suspicion of DUI and manslaughter following the crash. Culbreath was driving a Chevrolet Camaro the wrong way on the 60 Freeway when she hit a Ford Explorer that was cut in half from the impact and then hit a Ford Freestyle. In total, five females, two who were 24 years old, and a 47-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation in this crash is still ongoing, but investigators say the Camaro was traveling 100 mph going the wrong way and evidence of alcohol consumption was found at the scene.

Wrong Way Accidents on Long Island and What You Need to Know

Wrong-way accidents are not uncommon on Long Island. There have been recent arrests with alcohol-related wrong-way accidents on the LIE and Sunrise Highway. The most important thing you can do is be alert at night. In addition, here are four tips from officers on what you should do:

1. Pull over to the shoulder or side of the road as fast as you can and stop.
2. When you’re pulled over, flash your lights and honk your horn. Try to get the driver’s attention, but remember to do this when you’ve pulled over.
3. Call 911. If there is enough time before an accident happens, an officer can try to stop the driver.
4. Never turn around and follow the driver. Officers say this is the most important piece of advice. This puts you and other drivers in danger.

Contact our Wrong Way Car Accident Lawyers on Long Island

If you or someone you love was the victim of a wrong way car accident, call us at 516-217-9097 or contact us though our webform.

We help car accident victims throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as well as the five boroughs, get the maximum compensation they deserve to help pay for the mounting medical bills, lost wages, related expenses and pain and suffering. Contact us for a free consultation—there is never an obligation and no fee unless we get you a money through a verdict or settlement.