Truck strikes car, killing 2 on Highway 401

The Ontario Provincial Police have reported that two people were killed in a May 10 collision on Highway 401 involving a car and a tractor-trailer. One of the accident victims was a 13-year-old child. Authorities say that the cause of the accident is still being investigated. However, the sequence of events indicate that a negligent driver may have been responsible.

According to an OPP report, the accident took place around 2:30 p.m. in the vicinity of Mull Road. A tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes of Ontario Highway 401 struck a car after it strayed across the center median and into the path of oncoming traffic. Authorities say that the reasons the truck entered the eastbound lanes of the highway were not immediately apparent.

The 35-year-old male driver of the car and his 13-year-old female passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene. They were both Windsor residents. The 57-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer suffered injuries in the accident. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and subsequently released. The accident caused the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway to be closed for several hours to allow emergency response personnel and accident investigators to perform their duties.

While the causes of this accident remain unclear, collisions such as this frequently occur when commercial vehicle drivers are distracted or fatigued. The families of those killed in road traffic accidents may have civil remedies available when negligent or reckless drivers are responsible. These families may face severe financial challenges after losing the income of a breadwinner, and these problems can be made more acute by funeral costs and other expenses. A personal injury lawyer may seek redress for these issues by bringing a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.

Source: windsoriteDOTca, “Updated: 401 Crash Kills Two“, Kevin McQuaid Jr., May 11, 2014