1 Dead, 7 Injured in Head-On Collision
Not an actual photo of the accident.
One person is dead and seven are injured following a head-on collision in Walker County, TX. The crash occurred on Sunday, May 8, around 3:45 p.m.
The Head-On Collision
On Sunday, May 8, a Chevy pickup truck was driving southbound on State Highway 75.
According to witnesses, the pickup truck’s left rear tire blew out and caused the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic. At the same time, a Chevy Malibu was driving northbound on State Highway 75 when the pickup truck hit it head-on.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of the crash at around 3:45 p.m. When the New Waverly Fire Department arrived on scene, they found the Chevy pickup truck and the Chevy Malibu located off the road, each with significant front-end damage.
Once they approached the vehicles, they found four adults trapped inside two separate vehicles, and three children who were injured but not trapped. Once additional EMS crews arrived on scene, the four adults were extricated from their vehicles, and triaging began.
According to investigators, the front seat passenger of the Chevy Malibu was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Malibu along with two children were airlifted to a nearby hospital.
The driver of the Chevy pickup truck along with the pregnant front seat passenger were also airlifted to a nearby hospital. There were a child and adult in the backseat of the pickup truck who were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Investigators stated that no other injuries were reported from the crash.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is currently investigating the crash.
Ways to Avoid Head-On Collisions
The damage that occurs from a head-on collision can be extremely dangerous due to the force and point of impact for each vehicle. Extensive property damage is usually seen, and many of the victims face serious injuries or fatalities. While many accidents just happen no matter how hard you try to prevent them, there are some things you can do to avoid head-on collisions:
Put away any and all distractions
Focus all your attention to the road in front of you
Obey all traffic signs and signals
Drive at or below the posted speed limit
Take extra caution in construction areas
Make sure it is completely safe before passing a vehicle on a two-lane road
Don’t drive under the influence
Keep up with regular vehicle maintenance
Although the dangers of head-on collisions are serious, following these safety tips can decrease your chance of being involved in one.
Before you head out on the road, always make sure you have put all distractions aside and focus all your attention to the road and traffic signs. Doing so can help you prepare for any sudden changes on the road or in traffic.