Icy Conditions Blamed for Fiery Pileup
This year’s polar vortex is wreaking havoc with thermometers everywhere. Temperatures are whipsawing all over the country; some places are experiencing changes of nearly 50 degrees overnight. These drastic weather conditions are taking a toll on our health and safety. An accident in Maryland in mid-December showed just dangerous these drastic changes can be.
The accident happened early on December 17, when slick ice blanketed the darkened roadways. A fuel tanker was traveling on I-95 in downtown Baltimore when it slid over a rail, rolled and burst into flames. Highway traffic couldn’t stop on the icy roads; amid the conflagration, 55 vehicles were piled up, two people were dead and at least 15 were injured.
Witness Marvellous Amasiatu told the New York Daily News, “The road was slippery, very, very slippery, and my car had to stop on its own, so I had to maneuever over to the shoulder. I looked to the other side and traffic was coming down like 50mph, SUVs, a lot of tractor-trailers… when I looked up, I saw the cars piling up, slamming on each other. I called 911.”
The loss of life and the sheer size of this pileup is incredible, but it wasn’t the only accident that morning; there was a 20 car pileup on I-695 that sent six to the hospital, and 41 traffic crashes were reported in the northern part of Virginia. A woman in Ohio was killed the same day when her car skidded off the road. The weather conditions were beyond dangerous, killing too many and injuring too many more.
Avoiding dangerous situations
Driving in good conditions can be dangerous at the best of times; when weather conditions block visibility and turn highways into ice rinks, the unthinkable can quickly become real. The best way to avoid an accident in inclement weather is to simply get off the roads. If you are uncomfortable driving, pull off the road and find a safe place to stay until the weather clears.
Sometimes, however, weather conditions change drastically or family emergencies take precedence. When accidents happen, there is no substitute for qualified legal counsel. The experienced South Carolina truck accident attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, call 803-327-7800 or contact us today.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood