One of the most dangerous situations that a motorist can face is the sudden appearance of a vehicle headed the wrong way, directly at them. Just such a crash occurred recently in Tampa, taking the life of a 35-year-old driver who was traveling the right way on the road.
The accident occurred on U.S. 41 when 23-year-old Ronal R. Vasquez-Gonzalez, driving his Eclipse southbound on the northbound side of the highway, collided with a Honda Civic, sending both cars out of control. The damage to the other driver’s car was so great that it took rescuers hours to remove his lifeless body. Vasquez-Gonzalez was hospitalized for his injuries and faces multiple charges including DUI manslaughter. In addition to being intoxicated at the time of the crash, he was also reportedly driving without a license.
In wrong-way driver situations, other motorists are often forced to choose between a head-on collision and swerving out of the way — a possibility that could lead to impacts with other vehicles, concrete dividers or other objects on the road. On certain roads, the only way to avoid such an accident is to leave the roadway entirely, an action that can be incredibly dangerous. Many drivers, however, never even have time to react to the situation and are blindsided by the vehicle headed their way.
Wrong-way driving is sometimes a mistake, but many instances are brought about by drivers who are fatigued or intoxicated after consuming drugs or alcohol. If you have been involved in a wreck caused by a drunk driver or someone driving the wrong way, the auto accident attorneys at the Bradenton firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh can help you seek justice.