When an accident occurs that involves only one vehicle, there is always a danger that it will not be discovered for some time. An accident that might have been survivable when it happened could become a fatal accident the longer it takes for help to arrive. It could be some time before Ohio officials know whether this was the case in a recent crash in which two people died.
At approximately 1 a.m. on a recent Saturday, a passing motorist noticed that a vehicle was at the bottom of a culvert along Industrial Parkway here in Ohio. When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered that the two occupants in the vehicle were deceased. Reportedly, autopsies will need to be performed in order to determine what caused their deaths.
Preliminary reports indicate that the pair was four-wheeling in some fields nearby. The driver attempted to take the Jeep over the creek when it somehow got stuck in the embankment. When officials towed the vehicle out of the culvert, it was still running. No information was provided regarding how long the Jeep was stuck before it was found.
Although it is unclear who was driving the Jeep at the time of the accident, the family of the passenger retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the estate of the driver once that information is determined. If it can be established through applicable evidence that the death of their loved one was due to the negligence of the driver, the court might consider an award of damages. Any restitution received could help alleviate the financial impact this fatal accident caused the family.
Source: nbc4i.com, “2 dead after off-road accident near Plain City“, Jan. 16, 2016