One man was killed and nine people were injured in a crash in Pemiscot County on Wednesday evening around 7 p.m. The crash occurred on Route U at Route H, five miles west of Caruthersville, MO.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 32-year old St. Louis driver of a Isuzu Trooper was trying to pass a Dodge Durango driven by a 24 year-old Cooter, Missouri man. The St. Louis man hit the Durango and then hit a church van head-on. The St. Louis driver of the Isuzu Trooper was seriously injured and transported to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
The 24 year-old Cooter, MO man was moderately injured and taken to Memorial Hospital in Hayti. According to MSHP, the church van, a 2003 Ford van caught on fire after impact. The driver of the van, a 43 year-old man of Caruthersville, MO was taken to Pemiscot Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 7:30 p.m.
According to the MSHP crash report, seven people riding in the van were injured and that included a 5 year-old girl, five teenagers and one adult. The injuries ranged from moderate to serious on Monday night. Some in the van were flown to Memphis Hospitals and some were taken to Pemiscot Memorial in Hayti. The church van was from the Kinfolk Ridge Baptist Church in Caruthersville and according to the MSHP, it was on its way to a Valentine banquet. Seriously injured victims in the van included a 16 year-old female, a 36 year-old female, and a five year-old girl. Moderate injures were described for two 13 year old girls, a 13 year old boy and a 15 year old boy.
The news also reported that the driver of the church van, the 34 year-old fatality was also a fire fighter at the Arteriole Fire Department as well as a long time church member and was driving the kids to and from Wednesday night’s event. The story is even more touching as the brother of the 34 year-old fatally injured man was one of the first responders on the scene as he is also is a fire fighter.
Since the communities are very closely knit, the death and injuries have been devastating to the R-3 Schools and the Delta C-7 School District. The driver killed has two children that attend Caruthersville High School. In addition, two of the children on the van who were injured are students at the middle school.
It will be some time before we know all of the results of the investigation. Certainly, the Missouri State Highway Patrol will do the required investigation. Any time a fatality is involved, the accident scene is investigated. As well, accident reconstruction experts must examine all physical evidence and witness statements.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are generally considered to be among the most serious of all crashes. They occur when two vehicles strike each other directly from the front, and generally cause devastating injuries and death. First and foremost, two cars that crash into each other head on usually strike with greater force than when cars hit at any other angle. This combines the force of both vehicles. Meaning, if there are two vehicles going 50 mph when they hit head-on, it would be roughly the equivalent of a 100 mph collision into a stopped car. Of course, there are variable such as the weight of each vehicle and speed.
Another big reason head-on crashes are so dangerous is because the force is concentrated close to the driver and front seat passengers. With a head-on crash, the victims absorb the bulk of the force in a direct hit. Even though a 15 passenger is generally larger than most passenger cars, force such as speed of the striking car is an important variable.
Accident reconstruction experts are very good at recreating the crash by examining physical evidence including the wrecked vehicles, the terrain, injuries sustained to the victims, and all aspects of the crash site.
After being in such a horrific crash as the one above,
you are not thinking of accident reconstruction or insurance companies. If you or one of your family members is seriously injured or killed in a crash such as the one on Wednesday, you are spending your time just coping with the shock of injuries as well as trying to cope. And, you should not have to deal or even think about insurance companies in the first days after a crash.
As the medical bills begin the pile up, however, you do not have a choice but to think ahead. An experienced car crash attorney can come to meet you, get the information needed to start the investigation and handle all legal aspects, including insurance for you so that you can focus on your family and loved ones.
You Do Not Have to Go Through Such a Tragedy Alone
At The Cagle Law Firm, we represent seriously injured victims of motor vehicle crashes. Most people like to think they will not have to hire a personal injury lawyer, however, when multiple people are injured in a crash, the medical costs alone can be enormous. Call our attorneys seven days a week for a free consultations– toll free (800) 685-3302 or locally (314) 276-1681
