Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | October 31, 2011 | Car Accidents

Residents from New York are well-aware that motor vehicle accidents are often devastating. Many times, the accident is a result of distracted driving or some other form of negligence, but other times the cause is more egregious. A Queens woman was recently arraigned on a nine-count indictment for a fatal accident that resulted from her driving the wrong way on the New England Thruway. The incident caused one death and serious personal injury to another. The woman was also injured in the crash.

On July 24 around 4:30 a.m., the 26-year-old woman was said to be driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 for more than 6 miles. Police say the woman was intoxicated. Her vehicle, which was headed northbound in the southbound lanes, collided head-on with another car in which there were two people. Emergency responders had to extricate all three people from the two cars. The passenger of the second vehicle was taken to Sound Shore Medical Center and later pronounced dead. The driver of the second vehicle sustained serious physical injuries as well.

The nine-count indictment includes charges of aggravated vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. She faces up to 25 years in state prison.

The family of the deceased passenger may have legal cause to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death is a death caused by the negligent or willful conduct of another. New York residents who find themselves in similar situations may benefit from consulting with a personal injury attorney.

Source: New Rochelle Patch, “Wrong-way Driver Indicted for Fatal Crash,” Michael Woyton, Oct. 7, 2011