There is sometimes nothing worse than a fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver. In any circumstance, the loss of a loved one in an accident is a truly tragic event. Yet, when the event is a drunk driving accident, the utter senselessness of the act adds to the tragedy. In Connecticut, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, are pointing out that alcohol-related crashes are harming hundreds of residents every year.
In Old Lyme, Connecticut recently a crash that is possibly alcohol-related caused the death of three women. At approximately 9pm, the women traveled southbound on I-95, near exit 70. At the same time, a 51-year-old man was traveling on that very same road, but in the wrong direction. According to authorities, an individual placed a 911 call just after 9pm to report that a vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction on the road in the left shoulder. Just moments later, that wrong way driver hit the three women.
Another 911 caller reported that the two vehicles were completely destroyed on the road. All three women were killed in the crash. The 51-year-old man was taken to the hospital with some injuries.
According to MADD and a recent study, 360 people are killed each year due to wrong way drivers. Sadly, much of this has to do with alcohol. A spokesperson for MADD pointed out that these incidents have a ripple effect, harming not only the victims, but the victims’ loved ones and the families of the drunk driver. MADD is pushing for serious ignition interlock laws in the state. This would require repeat DWI offenders to blow into a breathalyzer each time they get behind the wheel. Unless the blood alcohol results indicate the individual is safe to drive, the car will not start.
Such a serious law may help prevent future tragic accidents from occurring. Drunk drivers are also prosecuted for their crimes. In addition, the victims’ families have an outlet in the civil law system, where they may receive monetary compensation to help them recover expenses and harm from the tragic event.
Source: News 8, “Mother, Daughter Killed in Wrong-Way Crash,” Dec. 12, 2012.
