No matter how carefully you are operating your vehicle, there might not be any way to avoid a collision when a car or truck is coming straight at you. On a busy highway like the New Jersey Turnpike, it could be impossible to cross into another lane without causing a crash. Shortly after midnight on October 19, a Dodge pickup truck driving in the wrong lane triggered an accident that left four people dead.
State Police say that Christopher Neff of Colorado was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes on the southern end of the Turnpike in Salem County. His pickup smashed into a Mazda SUV, which was then struck by a tractor-trailer. The driver of the Mazda, Yaakov Kilberg, 19, of Lakewood, and his three 18-year-old passengers were killed.
Wrong-way crashes are especially catastrophic because combined speeds magnify impact forces and leave little time to react. Though it was unclear at the time exactly what precipitated Neff’s entry into the southbound line, the investigation of the fatal auto accident could cover one or more of the following factors:
- Fatigue — A motorist on the road after midnight could be too drowsy to drive safely. Someone who is asleep at the wheel cannot read road signs and would not realize that they’re traveling against the flow of traffic.
- Alcohol or drug use — As this accident occurred shortly after midnight on a Sunday morning, a vehicle operator could still be under the influence of drugs or alcohol consumed on Saturday night.
- Unfamiliarity with the area — The location where the collision occurred is approximately one mile past the southern entrance of the Turnpike coming off the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Given that Neff is from Colorado, he might have been confused about where to go.
While it appears that Neff is liable for the deadly crash, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation as to what happened that night. It is also possible that the operator of the tractor-trailer was not driving safely or that a bar or restaurant could be partly responsible for serving Neff alcoholic beverages when he was clearly intoxicated.
At Seigel Law in Ridgewood, our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys work with accident reconstruction specialists, doctors and other experts to determine what led to a vehicle collision. Having obtained more than $500 million for New Jersey clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases, you can rely on us to handle complex claims with the highest degrees of skill and professionalism. To schedule a free consultation, please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online.