Motorcyclist dead in Arizona crash
A fatal car accident that occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 49 and Homer Lake Road on April 20 in Champaign County left two people dead. According to the report, two students from a nearby university were involved in the crash.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., a 19-year-old student was driving a Mercedes ML350 when the vehicle collided with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The results of a preliminary investigation indicated that the student was in the northbound lane and swerved into oncoming traffic where the vehicle collided head-on with a Jeep.
The 19-year-old driver and a 22-year-old passenger in the Mercedes were both taken to Carle Foundation Hospital. The 65-year-old male driver of the Jeep was also taken to the same hospital for treatment. His two passengers, a 62-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
At the time the report was released, the cause of death for both passengers was still under investigation, and autopsies had been scheduled for a later date. The student who was believed to have caused the crash was charged for improper lane use. Reports suggest that the young driver was unfamiliar with the area where the crash occurred.
When death or injury is caused by the actions of a negligent driver, that person might be held liable for damages through a lawsuit filed in civil court. In this case, the man driving the Jeep and the passenger in the Mercedes might be able to hold the 19-year-old driver liable for the cost of treatment for their injuries. If either of those victims were employed, they could also pursue funds that replace wages lost while they are in recovery. A similar action could be filed by the dependents of the deceased victims. Through a wrongful death claim, the plaintiffs might be awarded compensation for lost financial support.
Source: The Daily Illini, “Two students involved in fatal crash,” Daily Illini Staff, April 21, 2014
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