Man Killed Driving Eastbound on Westbound Highway
A 20-year-old man from O’Fallon, Missouri was killed in a head on collision with a tractor trailer. The crash occurred westbound on Highway 40 near Barat Haven, shutting down the road for several hours. Police suspect the man had been driving under the influence of alcohol and are waiting for toxicology test results.
The man was driving a 2000 silver Infiniti east at 3 a.m. head on against westbound traffic before striking a tractor trailer, driven by a 48-year-old man from Kansas City. The collision caused an explosion that melted the cab and part of the trailer. The young driver died 40 minutes later at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. The truck driver was not hurt.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2007 Assessment of Alcohol-Impaired Fatalities reports that the age group with the highest risk of alcohol-related traffic accident fatalities is 25-34. The age group 45-64 was the only one reported to have an increase in fatalities from 2006 to 2007. Missouri alcohol-related fatalities account for 30-34% of all statewide traffic accident fatalities.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense and threatens the lives of the intoxicated party as well as other motorists. Injured parties are entitled to seek compensation for any wrongful death, medical expenses, lost earnings and diminished quality of life.
If you or someone you love has been a victim in a Missouri drunk driving accident, you may want to discuss your claim with an experienced personal injury attorney. For a free consultation, call Page Cagle at (866) 620-5757 and one of our skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyers will answer any legal questions you may have regarding your case.
