Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 12, 2016
Fatal Accident Reported on Kraft Street in Clarksville
An accident on Kraft Street near Emerald Drive in Clarksville, Tennessee, led to the death of a local man.
According to a report by Clarksville Now, the accident occurred Monday morning when a 67-year-old man from Clarksville was driving his 2013 Subaru Forester eastbound on Kraft St. Around the same time, a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina driven by a 31-year-old man from Clarksville attempted to pass a another vehicle that was turning left into a nearby driveway.
As the driver of the Lumina passed the vehicle in the driveway, he drove into the eastbound lanes while heading west, causing him to strike the Subaru Forester. Both vehicles sustained damage and the driver of the Lumina suffered fatal injuries as a result of the accident.
He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via LifeFlight helicopter to receive treatment for his injuries, but he was pronounced dead after arriving. The driver of the Forester was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries.
Police are still investigating the accident and say it is unknown if the driver of the Lumina was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the crash occurred.
Tips for Passing Other Vehicles Safely
Passing other vehicles—especially on two-lane roads—always involves some risks. In general, it’s a good idea to never pass vehicles due to the risk it creates. However, in some cases it is unavoidable—especially if the vehicle in front of you is traveling at an extremely slow speed. If you do need to pass a vehicle, there are certain safety tips you can follow to reduce your risks as much as possible.
Taking the following tips into consideration before overtaking a vehicle on a road, highway, or interstate can make the process easier and safer for you, the other driver, and your passengers:
Because passing in areas with limited visibility or high speed limits is so dangerous, it is illegal to do so in many areas. Roadways or stretches of roadways where passing is illegal are indicated by double yellow lines in the middle of the road. IF you see these markings, passing is not only extremely dangerous due to it being difficult to see oncoming traffic, but it can also put you at risk of getting a ticket from a police officer or state trooper.
Safely passing another vehicle requires completing the process quickly and smoothly. Vehicles with quick acceleration and responsive turning make it easier and safer to pass other vehicles than cars with sluggish acceleration and sluggish turning. If your car has a low horsepower engine or takes a long time to accelerate, it’s best to avoid passing other vehicles.
Passing should be reserved for extreme situations when the vehicle in front of you is traveling at an excessively slow speed—not for when you’re in a hurry and want to go faster than the speed limit. Attempting to pass a vehicle that’s traveling at or above the speed limit means you will need to increase your speed to levels that may be unsafe—and it can also make you more likely to collide with vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
Passing other vehicles on highways and interstates with multiple lanes for traffic heading in both directions presents its own set of dangers, but passing on two-lane roads can be much more dangerous due to drivers temporarily driving in the wrong lane and driving toward opposing traffic. Avoid passing in those situations unless it is absolutely necessary to keep yourself and your family out of harm’s way.
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, the Clarksville auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law may be able to help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, and more. To find out how we can put our two decades of experience to work for you, dial (931) 274-7788 or fill out a free online consultation form.
