After a recent rollover car accident on I-10 near Clint, one man was pronounced dead and another remains in critical condition. El Paso County Sherriff’s representatives explained to KFOX-14 news that a dark green truck was racing another car in the eastbound lanes of I-10, when the truck tried to pull onto the off ramp at the Clint exit. The accident occurred when the truck lost control and swerved back onto the freeway, causing it to roll over several times.
Authorities indicated that the neither the driver nor the passenger were wearing seat belts at the time. Both were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled. The driver died on the way to the hospital, and the passenger was left in critical condition at Del Sol medical center.
10,000 people die in rollover accidents each year. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) the number of serious injuries increases 36 percent when a car rolls over in a crash. When this happens, tremendous pressure is forced on passengers’ heads and necks, thereby causing debilitating injuries. These are also known as “roof crush” injuries.
Rollover accidents are most common in sport utility vehicles and other vehicles having a high center of gravity and a narrow wheelbase. Nearly 60 percent of all rollover accident deaths occur in SUVs. As such, the NHTSA regulations require SUVs roofs to withstand 2.5 times the vehicle’s weight in order to protect passengers in a rollover accident.
Nevertheless, roof strength is immaterial if passengers are not wearing seatbelts. Passengers thrown from a vehicle will be seriously injured by hard, unforgiving surfaces; usually asphalt, concrete, or another vehicle. People ejected from vehicles are less likely to survive an accident than those wearing seatbelts that keep them inside the vehicle. However, faulty seatbelts that tear or come apart during a rollover may lead to casualties.
Rollover accidents require a great deal of investigative work to determine the cause and responsible parties. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, an experienced attorney can advise you of your rights and options.
Source: Rollover Crash In Socorro Leaves One Man Dead, Another Injured