Fatal Accident at Mud Road and Highway 119 (WTOC)
Local News
75-year-old Jestine Roberson was reportedly killed in a fatal crash involving a church van on Mud Road and Highway 119 Friday, September 27, 2014.
According to WTOC reports, a vehicle ran the stop sign at the Mud Road and Highway 119 intersection around 7:00pm Friday evening. That driver apparently struck and overturned a church van carrying four passengers. Jestine Roberson, of Brooklet, reportedly perished from injuries at the scene. Three others were airlifted to Memorial University Medical Center with serious injuries.
Georgia State Patrol’s SCRT team is investigating the crash. Charges are allegedly pending against the at-fault driver.
Our Legal Take
The Murray Law Firm is following the accident closely and questions whether distraction, impairment or speed may have been factors in this tragedy.
Why did the driver fail to notice or stop for the stop sign? Did he also fail to notice the multiple junction and stop-ahead warning signs as he approached the intersection? Do cellphone records and traffic surveillance footage indicate whether the driver was texting or otherwise distracted at the time of the crash?
Were blood tests taken immediately following the accident and, if so, do these results indicate whether the driver was operating under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medications?
How fast was the driver traveling when he struck the church van with enough force to overturn the vehicle? Did excessive speed contribute to his failure to stop in time?
Should the driver be found at fault for distracted driving or excessive speed, the family of Jestine Roberson may elect to hold the driver civilly liable for her wrongful death. The other victims of this crash may also file civil claims for the injuries they suffered.
Of course, legal proceedings are of little consequence to a grieving family. However, claims of this magnitude would, most importantly, send a grave message to all Georgia drivers on the perils of distracted and impaired driving. Such claims would also call on local law enforcement and officials to reevaluate the enforcement of distracted driving laws and education programs. Perhaps, through these legal claims, many other lives may be spared.
The Roberson family and the injured victims of this crash should retain an experienced personal injury firm without delay to ensure all evidence, such as cellphone records, are preserved and their best interests are protected.
The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims of distracted, impaired and negligent drivers. We offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 912.385.9690. Consultations are free and confidential.
