Lives are at stake each day on the roads in upstate New York and across the country. Car accidents often cause severe injuries, and too often, lives are lost. The dangers were underscored by a head-on crash that claimed five lives on a recent Sunday evening. Reportedly, this accident occurred on State Route 79 shortly before 5:30 p.m.
According to a preliminary accident report, the driver of an eastbound SUV, occupied by five people, appeared to have attempted to pass another eastbound vehicle without making sure that the road ahead was clear. Before the SUV driver could complete the pass and return to the eastbound lane, he encountered an oncoming pickup truck. A deadly head-on collision followed.
Reportedly, the driver and two of the passengers in the SUV died at the crash scene. The other two passengers were both critically injured, and one was transported to a hospital while the other was airlifted to another medical facility. The pickup truck’s driver and a 14-year-old passenger were both declared dead at the accident scene. Multiple agencies responded to the crash, including the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.
The two injured passengers and the surviving family members of the four people who lost their lives may have grounds to pursue financial relief. With the assistance of a New York attorney who is experienced in dealing with car accidents and the resulting claims, negligence on the part of the SUV driver may be established. Wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits can then be filed against the estate of the deceased SUV driver in pursuit of monetary damages.