After a fiery crash in Marion, three people were killed and several others suffered injuries. The responding Ohio authorities suspect that one car set off a chain reaction crash that eventually included a total of six vehicles. The driver of that car — a 41-year-old man — then supposedly left the scene. The surviving family of the three relatives who lost their lives could choose to file a wrongful death suit against the driver.
Shortly before 4 p.m., the man was driving his car near an intersection. For some reason, his vehicle sideswiped another vehicle, and reportedly, the man attempted to flee the scene. As he tried to leave the scene, he also is said to have hit four other parked vehicles. Two of those vehicles caught on fire, and three family members lost their lives because they were trapped inside their vehicle. Eleven others had to be taken to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries, but they are expected to recover.
Since the accidents are still under investigation, whatever could have led to the initial accident is unknown at this time. The driver could have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and/or he could have been speeding. However, whether the police suspect those things to have been a factor in the crash has not been publicly released. Whether the man was arrested and is facing criminal charges is also unclear.
If the driver of the first car is arrested, tried and convicted of criminal charges resulting from the gruesome crash, it would likely help the family of the relatives who were killed attain some sense of peace. However, even if criminal charges are not filed or successfully prosecuted, the family has the right to file for an Ohio wrongful death suit. If the civil suit is successful, it would help the family deal with the financial aspects of this devastating tragedy.
Source: 10tv.com, “Three Dead, Several Injured After Fiery Car Crash In Marion“, , July 14, 2014