Posted in Car accident,Uncategorized on January 17, 2017
A car accident on I-79 near mile larker 139 in Marion County, West Virginia, sent six people including a Marion County deputy, to local hospitals. The collision occurred on Monday around 8:45 p.m.
According to news reports and a press release from the West Virginia State Police, authorities had responded to a tractor trailer fire on Interstate 79 around 8:45 p.m. The deputy involved in the crash was attempted to slow down traffic and to move traffic into the left lane of the interstate.
Around that time, a 62 year old driver followed the deputy’s instructions and began to slow down and move into the left lane. The driver of a second vehicle operated by a 17 year old failed to see the deputy or the flares and rear-ended the car operated by the 62 year old individual. As a result, the deputy was hit and knocked nearly 40 feet off of the road.
Rear end collisions are a very common type of collision and often occur due to distracted driving. Distracted driving is defined by the department of transportation as “any driving that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary tasks of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.” Distracted driving includes, among other things:
– Texting
– Using a cell phone
– Eating
– Talking to a passenger
– Reading
– Using a navigation system
Distracted driving in the United States is a major problem. According to government statistics, ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted.
