Tennessee crash results in fatality and injuries

On Feb. 14, a 47-year-old Harriman man was killed and five others were hurt in a head-on collision in Roane County. The crash occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Highway 70, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Authorities said a 43-year-old Harriman woman was driving an SUV westbound on Highway 70 near Kingston when she crossed the center line and hit an oncoming Toyota Tacoma. The Toyota driver was killed in the crash. His two passengers, a male and a female, were injured. None of the truck’s occupants were wearing safety belts. The SUV driver and her two passengers, a male and a 9-year-old child, were also hurt.

Police said the SUV driver was determined to have drugs in her system at the time of the accident. It is unknown if alcohol played a role in the incident. The crash remains under investigation. Criminal charges and citations are expected to be filed in the case.

When someone is killed in an auto accident caused by an impaired driver, the victim’s next of kin may wish to file a wrongful lawsuit against the responsible driver regardless of whether the driver has been convicted of any criminal charges. By using police reports, toxicology results and other evidence, an attorney can help to show that the at-fault driver was responsible for a victim’s death. If the claim is successful, the victim’s family could receive compensation for economic and non-economic losses, including funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering before death, lost wages, lost inheritance, loss of companionship and other damages.

Source: WBIR, “Car accident kills 1, injures 5 in Roane County”, WBIR Staff, Feb. 14, 2015