Although car accidents can be deadly in a number of ways, potentially the most dangerous type of collision is a head-on crash. When two vehicles are going in opposite directions at high speeds and crash directly into each other, serious and fatal consequences ensue. Because many times these accidents take place because of the negligence or recklessness of another driver, it is crucial to understand how to recover from subsequent injuries, property damage, or in extreme crashes, the death of loved ones.
According to a recent local news report, a deadly two-vehicle crash left four individuals dead. Local authorities reported that on the Bel Air Bypass on Route 1 near Rock Spring Road, a Toyota was heading north when it tried to pass another vehicle and crossed into the southbound lane. A Honda was traveling southbound and the Toyota crashed into the Honda head-on. After the initial crash, the Toyota rolled over onto its side and caught on fire. By the time troopers arrived, they had to extinguish the flames and evacuate the driver of the Toyota and its passengers. The driver and passenger of the Honda were both pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota and her passenger were airlifted to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. The Toyota’s passenger later died from her injuries. The accident remains under investigation by Maryland state police.
Head-on crashes take place because of a number of reasons but are commonly associated with negligent or reckless drivers or maneuvers. Distracted driving involving talking on a cell phone or texting, for example, is one of the most common ways that head-on collisions take place. Other times, drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also cause them to veer into oncoming traffic. Driving the wrong way, drifting into the opposite lane caused by fatigue or drowsiness, speeding around curves, and improper passing are also common causes of head-on accidents.