A tragic accident in North Carolina has caused the death of a 33-year-old Raleigh man. He was attempting to assist a stalled motorist in the city of Barco when he was struck and killed by a pickup truck. In a strange twist, the stalled motorist is the one facing criminal charges after the death occurred.
The victim stopped to help the motorist after his pickup truck stalled. Prior to the accident, the pickup driver had apparently missed an intersection stop sign and stopped on Shortcut Road’s westbound lane. The good Samaritan stopped to help and check on the man’s condition, joined by a passenger from another vehicle that stopped as well. Another pickup then crashed into the pickup truck that originally stalled. The impact of the crash caused that vehicle to spin around, hitting both of the men who came by to help.
The 33-year-old was thrown almost 100 feet in the air and sustained fatal injuries. The other man suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The man whose truck had stalled was not seriously injured; however, the pickup driver who crashed into the stalled vehicle required hospitalization for injuries received in the crash. The stalled motorist is now facing several charges, including driving while impaired and unsafe movement and could face additional criminal charges later.
The death of the man is a tragic occurrence, especially since he only stopped to render aid to a motorist. Anytime a death like this occurs, it can leave behind unanswered questions for the victim’s family. Once the accident investigation is completed, the family may better understand the reasons behind the crash. If negligence is found to be a factor in this North Carolina accident by any of the parties involved, the family could seek civil action against those responsible. Doing so will not change what occurred, but a successful claim could help reduce any financial burden suffered as a consequence of the tragedy.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot, “Man charged in death of good Samaritan in N.C.,” Jeff Hampton, July 16, 2012