by Dallas Car Accident Attorney, Tim O’Hare
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Last week, a 31-year-old intoxicated driver killed a young Texas mother after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 20 in Duncanville. A witness captured much of the incident on camera, including good Samaritans who rushed to the woman’s aid in an effort to save her life.
Amberly McCray was just 23 years old and leaves behind a 9-month-old son.
Sadly, this was not the first time the driver who took Amberly’s life has been accused of driving while intoxicated.
Every year, more than 300 wrong-way crashes occur on Texas roadways. The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that wrong-way driving accounts for about three percent of all high-speed highway accidents. Wrong-way crashes on highways are particularly deadly, as they involve a head-on collision between two vehicles traveling at high rates of speed. According to Federal data, approximately 350 people die every year as the result of a wrong-way accident.
Although some of these deadly car accidents can be attributed to driver confusion or medical conditions, many times drugs or alcohol are to blame. A 2012 NTSB special investigation report states that nearly two-thirds of wrong-way drivers in fatal collisions were driving under the influence of alcohol, and at least 57 percent had a blood-alcohol level above .15 percent.
While there is never an excuse for drunk driving, there are things we can do to reduce our risk of becoming the victim of a wrong-way crash:
Drive in the right lane. Most drivers drive in the right lane, which means someone who is driving the wrong way is more likely to be traveling in the left lane of oncoming traffic (the lane to the wrong-way driver’s right).
Avoid driving late at night. Many wrong-way and drunk driving accidents occur in the late hours of the night or early hours of the morning. Whether you are on a road trip or simply traveling home from an evening out with friends, make a point to avoid driving late at night.
Report wrong-way drivers. If you see somebody driving the wrong-way, call 911 immediately. The sooner law enforcement is notified the greater the chance the wrong-way driver will be stopped before causing a deadly accident.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one as a result of drunk driving or a wrong-way car accident, contact The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for a free consultation with a Dallas car accident attorney.
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