Often when one hears about a rear end accident it occurs at a stop sign or stop light. While these are the most common scenarios under which these types of accidents occur, they can of course happen while both vehicles are in motion as well. An accident of this nature occurred late last month in Somerset County. Sadly, it resulted in the death of one on the men involved.
According to state police two men were in a car driving northbound along Route 160 when their vehicle was hit from behind. At the time of the motor vehicle collision, the car the men were in was attempting to make a left turn off of Route 160, onto McKenzie Hollow Road.
The force of the impact instantly killed the 63-year-old man who was driving the vehicle trying to make the turn. His 62-year-old passenger suffered injuries described as major in the afternoon collision. Accordingly he was transported to Cumberland Hospital. The 39-year-old man driving the car that hit the one that was trying to make the turn was apparently uninjured in the crash.
Though police have indicated the 39-year-old was unable to stop his vehicle it is not clear why that was the case. There are multiple reasons this could occur. One reason is the actions taken by the person driving the vehicle, such as engaging in distracted driving. Another cause of the car being unable to stop is equipment failure which occurs when an automobile does not work the way it is supposed to.
Whatever the reason for this accident, the death of the one man and critical injuries sustained by the other have likely come as a huge shock to their loved ones.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "One dead, one injured in Somerset crash," Deborah M. Todd, July 28, 2012