A man and his 7-year-old passenger are dead following a serious crash in Raleigh on August 2. The two-car accident also injured three other people. North Carolina authorities are still investigating the crash and have yet to announce their findings.
According to local sources, the 22-year-old driver of a sedan was travelling at high speed along a Raleigh road when he lost control of his vehicle, which spun out across the street. His vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle head-on, sending both vehicles over 20 feet as a result of the impact. One passenger in the first vehicle, a 7-year-old boy, was not wearing a seat belt at the time of impact and was pronounced dead at the scene by arriving medical personnel.
The driver of the first car was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries, to which he later succumbed. His other passenger, a 22-year-old woman, was also injured but was taken to hospital and is currently listed as being in good condition. The driver and passenger of the oncoming car were both rushed to hospital as well, with injuries described as mild to moderate. They are also listed as being in good condition at the time of this writing. Police have not commented on whether or not alcohol played a role in this crash, though they have reason to believe high speed may have been a factor.
The tragic death of a child can never be mitigated by any higher authority, but the surviving family of the 7-year-old victim may be able to seek compensation from the estate of the deceased driver. Regardless whether or not police determine him to be legally at fault for the car accident, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle can also seek personal injury law suits against the driver’s estate. Any such suits would be dealt with through a North Carolina civil court.
Source: wtvd.com, “Man and child killed in Raleigh crash,” Aug. 2, 2013
