Fatal South Carolina crash may have involved alcohol

A traffic accident near Greenville resulted in the death of an 82-year-old man on Oct. 25. According to authorities, the incident occurred just before 4:40 a.m. on Augusta Road near its intersection with White Horse Road.

The 82-year-old man was traveling in the northbound lane of Augusta Road in a 2004 Honda Civic and collided head-on with a 2000 Ford SUV that was traveling south in the northbound lane, according to law enforcement officials. The 82-year-old man died as a result of blunt force trauma, officials said. He was declared dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Ford SUV, a 30-year-old Greenville man, suffered minor injuries in the crash, reportedly. He was treated at Greenville Memorial Hospital. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the 82-year-old man was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. The 30-year-old man, on the other hand, was not.

Law enforcement officials detained the 30-year-old man on charges of DUI with great bodily injury. He also received a citation for driving without a valid driver’s license. He was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center. According to SCHP, the investigation into the accident was ongoing.

Drunk-driving accidents leave thousands of families grieving the loss of a loved one each year. In addition to the intense emotional stress that accompanies such a sudden death, families frequently experience financial strain and even debt in connection with the decedent’s funeral bills, estate administration expenses and other end-of-life costs. These families may consider seeking civil remedies in the form of a wrongful death suit. A personal injury attorney with experience in wrongful death claims may provide these bereaved families with counsel regarding their eligibility to file suit, what damages they may seek and how to proceed with such civil action.

Source: Greenville Online, “Car traveling wrong way kills elderly man“, Eric Connor, October 25, 2014