Two residents of Clarence, Missouri, located in Shelby County, were moderately injured Wednesday night. A female was driving a 1998 Honda with two male passengers. The Honda was stopped on Interstate 70 near Marshall, Missouri near the 79 mile marker because the car was disabled from a prior accident. Due to the prior car accident, the driver was unable to move the car out of harm’s way and thus, it was partially blocking the roadway. At that time, a 2011 Freightliner tractor-trailer slid into the stopped Honda. Shortly thereafter, a 2008 International semi-truck struck the Freightliner. Only the two male passengers in the Honda were injured. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the two injured males were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. It was also reported, not surprisingly, that the initial car accident occured as a result of the poor road conditions from the recent snowfall.
I currently represent a family involved in a similar car accident. In that case, a phantom vehicle struck my clients’ vehicle, causing it to be disabled. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was struck again by a third motorist unable to avoid the stopped car. Drivers need to be aware of their surroundings. While I urge clients to watch for moving traffic after an impact, it is important to note that many individuals following a car crash are in shock and don’t know what to do. Motorists need to be aware of their surroundings and have a duty to watch for disabled cars – especially those involved in accidents in po0r weather.
There have been a rash of injuries near the St. Louis metro area and other Missouri cities where people have been struck by cars following minor accidents. It is so important to move yourself out of the path of travel following an accident. It is so unfortunate to hear of serious injuries resulting in circumstances such as these. It is also crucial that both drivers and passengers wear seatbelts. If you are involved in a car crash and your car is disabled, as an accident attorney, I urge you to keep your seat belt on until you exit the vehicle.
2 from Clarence hurt in crash on I-70 during snow storm, The Marshall Democrat-News, January 20, 2011.