Around 1 am on Friday, June 28th, a chain reaction crash involving three vehicles occurred on Old Highway 80 in Boulevard, a town located in eastern San Diego County. The crash resulted in three deaths and one serious injury.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Jared Grieshaber, just before 1 am, a 45-year-old woman driving a 2015 Toyota Camry was headed east on the two-lane highway when she veered into oncoming traffic. The Toyota collided head-on with a 1995 Ford F-150, which was driven by a 65-year-old woman.
After the head-on collision, the woman driving the Toyota exited her vehicle which had stopped in the eastbound lanes with no lights on. She was standing by the vehicle when a 2000 Honda CR-V struck her. Grieshaber reported that the driver of the CR-V did not see the Toyota or the woman who drove it. The 45-year-old woman who drove the Toyota died at the scene.
The 65-year-old woman who drove the Ford truck and one of her passengers, a 70-year-old man, died at the hospital. A second passenger of the Ford sustained serious injuries. The 58-year-old Honda driver suffered injuries, however they were not considered life-threatening.
Grieshaber reported that it does not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the incident. Officials are continuing to investigate the incident.
Common Causes of Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous types of collisions, and they often result in severe injuries, sometimes even death. Some common causes include:
- Driver Fatigue: drowsy driving can lead to loss of control and veering into oncoming traffic
- Distracted Driving: using cell phones, eating, adjusting the radio, or even talking with passengers can cause drivers to drift out of their lanes
- Impaired Driving: alcohol and drugs can cause drivers to lose control and reduce their reaction times and may lead to a head-on collision
- Speeding: excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the severity of a crash
- Wrong-Way Driving: mistakenly entering a roadway against traffic flow typically results in a head-on collision
- Weather Conditions: Poor visibility and slippery roads can lead to accidents
Some safety precautions that drivers can take to work to prevent head-on collisions include:
- Avoiding distractions
- Driving sober
- Pulling over and sleeping if tired
- Adhering to speed limits and adjusting speed according to road conditions
- Using headlights to increase visibility
- Staying alert, cautious, and vigilant
“As a personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating aftermath of head-on collisions. My heart goes out to the victims and their families involved in the Old Highway 80 collision on June 28th,” says Gerald Singleton, San Diego car accident attorney at Singleton Schreiber, “It is important that those involved in this accident, and others in similar situations, know that they may have legal recourse and could consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to learn more about their options.”
If you have been injured or tragically lost a loved one in a car collision, contact Singleton Schreiber today by calling (619) 771-3473 or emailing info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more about your options.
