Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on July 16, 2017
An accident involving four vehicles resulted in six fatalities in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Bowling Green late Thursday.
WKRN.com reports that the crash happened at around 10:30 p.m. near mile marker 30 on a stretch of the interstate near an active construction project where it narrows from three lanes to two lanes.
A report by Kentucky State Police indicates that the crash occurred when a commercial vehicle was stopped in a line of traffic and a second commercial vehicle failed to stop, crashing into two vehicles and then the stopped commercial truck.
The chain-reaction accident caused six people to suffer fatal injuries. It’s unknown which victims were in the four vehicles that were involved in the crash.
Emergency responders closed the road from 10:30 p.m. until around 5 a.m. Friday morning. The accident is still under investigation.
Safety Tips for Driving through Construction Zones
Improving Kentucky’s streets, highways, and interstates requires frequent maintenance and construction projects. And the while the results of those projects result in things like wider lanes, smoother asphalt, and safer turns, drivers may be at higher risk of accidents when construction and work are ongoing.
To better protect yourself when you drive through a construction zone, do your best to follow these tips:
Construction zones often have significantly reduced speed limits and significantly increased fines for drivers who violate them. That’s because construction zones feature unique dangers such as sudden lane shifts, winding and often narrow paths, and traffic lanes near construction equipment and workers. When you approach a construction zone, be sure to check for speed limit signs and be ready to reduce your speed right away.
In some cases, construction and road work sites will have workers in or near the roadway giving drivers directions—especially if the project involves road closures and detours. Be prepared to stop, slow down, or even turnaround when approaching some construction sites, and follow the directions of law enforcement officers or flaggers.
One of the biggest risk factors when driving through road work areas is a lack of patience. It’s easy to get frustrated, especially when road work projects cause traffic backups and delays. To reduce the impact that the construction zone has on your trip or commute, give yourself plenty of time by leaving early or by taking an alternate route.
Construction zones can lead to major traffic congestion, especially during morning and evening rush hours. But despite the heavy vehicle volume, it’s important to leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Any time there’s a traffic backup, rear-end collisions become a greater risk—and congestion in construction areas is no exception.
A common mistake that some drivers make is increasing their speed or relaxing their driving habits and caution when they get past the heaviest congestion of a construction zone. However, reduced speed limits and increase enforcement still apply regardless of the road conditions, so be sure to maintain your reduced speed until you see signs indicating you’ve exited the work area.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Bowling Green auto accident lawyers knows that frequent construction and road work projects are keys for maintaining the Bluegrass State’s roads, highways, and interstates. Following the tips above when you’re passing through these areas—or simply being aware of construction projects and taking alternate routes—can help you avoid being involved in an accident or getting an expensive citation.
If you or someone you know was hurt in an accident that was caused by a negligent driver, our legal team wants to speak with you. We know that the crash may have caused you to suffer serious injuries that require expensive treatments, and you also may be unable to go back to work. We’ll fight for your rights to full compensation. Just dial (270) 282-0110 or complete a free online consultation form.
