Infant Dead & Mother Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash
An infant is dead and their mother injured after a multi-vehicle crash in Harris County, TX. The crash occurred around 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 13, in the 6600 block of Cunningham Road.
According to authorities, a tow truck hauling a vehicle was speeding down the road and struck a stopped Nissan. An infant was inside the Nissan along with the mother. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for their injuries. The infant died later from his injuries.
The Tow-Truck Crash
On Sunday, February 13, a tow truck hauling a vehicle was heading eastbound on Cunningham Road at a high rate of speed. The tow truck then struck a Nissan that was stopped at a red light causing the truck to push the Nissan into a ditch, flipping it.
According to authorities, the vehicle attached to the tow truck also rolled into the ditch. The Harris County Assistant District Attorney stated that there was no indication that the tow truck braked prior to the impact.
The driver of the Nissan and her infant son were taken to a local hospital for their injuries. The infant was pronounced dead later at the same hospital while the mother suffered a broken pelvis.
According to the Assistant District Attorney, the tow truck driver remained at the scene of the crash where he was taken into custody. He suffered no injuries from the crash. Authorities stated that he will be charged with manslaughter along with reckless aggravated assault. Intoxication is not believed to have played a role in the crash.
What Are the Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end collisions make up about 23 percent of all motor vehicle crashes. In 2017, there were 3,721 car accident fatalities in Texas with 253 of those caused by rear-end collisions.
Rear-end collisions can happen for a number of reasons, including:
Tailgating — When a driver fails to keep a safe distance between the vehicle in front of them, they have less time and space to react to any sudden changes on the road.
Distracted Driving — Having distractions in your car such as a cellphone, GPS, or food can take your attention off the road and give you less time to react.
Speeding — Speeding can cause a greater impact during a collision because the driver has less time to slow down.
Hazardous Weather Conditions — Hazardous weather conditions, such as ice, fog, and heavy rain, can make roads dangerous and affect the reaction time of a driver.
As you can see, most of these causes can easily be avoided by following safe and cautious driving habits. A moment of recklessness or carelessness is not worth the injury or death of yourself or another driver.
When getting behind the wheel, ensure that you are keeping a safe following distance between each vehicle and putting all distractions away.