A van from the First Missionary Baptist Church in Smithfield, North Carolina, hit a deer while traveling on N.C. 96 on May 23 at 5:30 p.m.
According to the local ABC News affiliate, the deer jumped onto the road where the van hit it and lost control. The van then sideswiped another van and finally had a head-on collision with a SUV. It rolled over and trapped the 12 occupants, killing an 84-year-old church deacon. The SUV ended up submerged in a pond adjacent to the road, killing the 62-year-old driver. Both died at the scene of the accident.
Injuries to survivors were severe
Emergency responders arrived at the scene and removed the occupants of the van. Five were sent to WakeMed and six were sent to Duke University Medical Center. All were listed in serious condition.
Often driver error is the cause
This accident was a potent reminder of how dangerous the roads can be. No one was at fault in this tragic crash that occurred during daylight hours with perfect road conditions. Nonetheless, there was still loss of life and severe injury.
While not the case here, human error is often the cause of major crashes. If an individual or family member is injured in a vehicle accident due to the negligence of another driver, it is advisable to seek out the legal guidance from an attorney with experience handling accidents. They can protect your rights and advocate for the proper amount of compensation if it is determined that one side is at fault.
