A devastating 4th of July drunk driving car accident in New York was remembered recently near the eastbound service road of the Long Island Expressway in Flushing, Queens. The daughter of a 64-year-old man stood near 150th Street with a homemade poster to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. It was her father that died in the unfortunate accident.
The accident happened just a year ago when the 64-year-old driver was hit by a drunk driver, who was traveling the wrong way. The drunk driver smashed into the father’s airport shuttle van. The man slid out of the van right before it exploded, according to Pix 11. The father suffered catastrophic injuries. He battled these injuries for more than two weeks at New York Hospital-Flushing. Three days after doctors amputated his right leg because of severe infection, he passed away.
Our New York car accident attorneys understand that drunk drivers pose serious threats to all motorists on our roadways. For this reason, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has placed these drivers on their “most wanted” list. Something needs to be done to stop these drivers in their tracks to help save lives around the country.
“It was a crucifixion. His abdomen was open, his chest was crushed, his leg was destroyed,” says his daughter, remembering the traumatic event.
The drunk driver was speeding, traveling at more than 80 miles per hour, and was traveling the wrong way. He was sentenced back in March to 3.5 to 10.5 years in prison.
In an attempt to combat this serious and fatal problem, the victim’s daughters have been trying to get a law passed in their father’s name. John Rey’s bill, which recently passed in the state Senate, addresses safety concerns at “exit ramps” near major highways. Not only are they looking to have more signs placed in these areas to alert drivers that they’re traveling the wrong way, but they’re also trying to get road spikes in these areas. They believe that road spikes are more likely to grab the attention of a drunk driver.
Since this tragic 4th of July accident, there have been at least 19 more “wrong way” accidents that happened in the metro area before the year’s end. One of these incidents even killed a New York City police officer on his way home from work.
In an attempt to stop tragic accidents like this one, the NTSB has launched a new campaign that targets our roadway’s most dangerous drivers. It’s no surprise that drunk drivers are on the NTSB’s most wanted list. The campaign offers a number of actions that can be taken to implement necessary life-saving safety recommendations.
It is estimated that someone dies from a traffic accident that involves an alcohol-impaired driver every 48 minutes. In 2009, nearly 11,000 people died because of these incidents. Drunk driving accidents accounted for a third of all highway deaths. Although the number of fatal accidents across the United States has experienced a decrease in the last 10 years, the number of drunk driving accidents remains the same. Surprisingly enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a motorist is likely to make nearly 90 impaired driving trips before they’re arrested. Impaired driving is a preventable accident that takes the lives of too many motorists year after year.
The NTSB recommends that states consider these actions to help stop drunk driving:
-Ensure administrative license revocation when a driver fails or refuses to take a sobriety test.
-Limit plea bargaining and diversion programs. Make sure that the consequences and sentences for those who’ve been busted drinking and driving are firm and severe.
-Conduct a number of sobriety check points, especially around popular holidays.
-Consider installing ignition interlock devices for those who have been convicted of driving while impaired to ensure they won’t do it again in their vehicle.
-Sentence guilty parties to jail time, home detention with electronic monitoring or intensive supervision probation.
Until more strict punishments accompany drunk driving, we are doomed to continue to see accidents like the fatal 4th of July accident in New York. Motorists are asked to take driving seriously and to stay sober behind the wheel. Any amount of alcohol has the ability to alter your decision making skills and your reaction time and has the potential to kill your or another innocent motorist.
New York City car accident lawyer Nicholas Rose would like you to know that our office is available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured in a New York City car accident. To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-313-ROSE (7673). Nicholas Rose represents accident victims throughout the New York City area, including Long Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
Additional Resources:
Daughter Brings DWI Message To Fatal Accident Scene, by Mary Murphy, Pix 11
More Blog Entries:
Technology could eliminate risk of drunk driving car accidents in New York City, Long Island, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 4, 2011
Drugs or alcohol believed to be a factor in 15 recent wrong-way crashes in Long Island, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, January 9, 2011
Resolve to stay safe: Don’t let drinking and driving lead to New York car accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, January 2, 2011
