Mesa police said one person was killed and five others were hurt in an auto accident in Arizona
caused by a wrong-way driver last Sunday afternoon. Four vehicles were involved in the collision near Recker and McDowell
roads at about 1:45 p.m.
Police said a Lincoln SUV driven by an 85-year-old woman was going the wrong
way on Recker, which is a four-lane road divided by a raised median, when it
struck a Mazda van head-on, causing the van to roll over. The SUV then spun around and continued
northbound where it hit a southbound Jeep Cherokee and Chevy Cavalier. Five people had to be extricated from their
vehicles.
The SUV driver is listed in life-threatening condition at a local hospital. Her
passenger, John Schrier, 87, died at a hospital.
The van driver, identified as a 56-year-old man, was treated for minor
injuries at a local hospital. His passenger, a 52-year-old woman, is listed in
life-threatening condition at a Valley hospital.
The driver of the Jeep and her passenger, a woman in her 80s, suffered
non life-threatening injuries. The
three occupants of the Chevy refused medical treatment at the scene.
Witnesses said the Lincoln SUV had just run a red light prior to driving left
of the median. At this time, it is unknown why the SUV was driving the wrong
way. The investigation is ongoing.
First and foremost, we will keep in our thoughts and prayers the injured victims and their families.
Second, with so much damage and so many injured, where do these people turn for assistance for their property damages and medical bills?
Of course, the first thought is the auto insurance for the at-fault driver. But, does she have sufficient coverage? And if not, what happens?
More and more, we are seeing accidents where the at-fault driver in uninsured, or perhaps as in this case, underinsured.
It is perhaps more important than ever these days to protect yourself and your family through your own auto insurance. Three separate optional coverages come to mind:
- Uninsured Motorist. This will provide a layer of protection for you if the at-fault driver has no insurance.
- Underinsured Motorist. This will provide a layer of protection for you if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance.
- Medical Payments. This will provide protection to pay for medical expenses. It is a no fault coverage.
For innocent victims, it just adds insult to injury to be stuck with medical or other bills as a result of someone else’s negligence.
These can be very tricky claims to present, and legal representation is strongly recommended to make sure you are as well protected as possible.
Our best to all involved.
