A third victim of a Nov. 2 accident on Highway 27, a 7-year-old boy, has died, according to reports. According to police at the scene, the driver at fault may have been under the influence of alcohol. The driver, who was among the deceased, had not been wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. Police have launched an investigation to determine all of the factors that led to the collision.
The wrongful death happened along Highway 27 at 11:15 p.m. While a 26-year-old woman drove her 1998 Toyota Camry 8 miles north of Ozark, she was allegedly hit head-on by a 53-year-old man driving a 2002 Ford Ranger. Both drivers were killed during the collision. Three other occupants of the Toyota were transported to Southeast Alabama Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
Initially, the 7-year-old victim had been taken to Flowers Hospital. Suffering from life-threatening injuries, he was moved to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham where he died on Nov. 5. It is unclear whether the occupants of the Toyota had been wearing seat belts.
Although the driver at fault has died, his estate may still be held liable for the crash. If family members of the deceased victims wish to seek compensation, a lawyer may be able to help them file a wrongful death claim. To help build their case, a lawyer may gather evidence of reckless driving to present in court. Family members may seek compensation for end-of-life medical treatment, funeral expenses and pain and suffering experienced by the victims.
Source: The Telegraph, Caiden Hughes obituary, Nov. 7, 2013
Source: The Southeast Sun, “UPDATED: Highway 27 accident claims third life“, November 05, 2013
