Drunk Driver Kills Another in Head-On Crash Near La Plata and Waldorf

           A 20 year old volunteer firefighter was killed in a devastating head-on collision last night on Route 425 near Tim’s Lane in La Plata, Maryland.  According to Police, alcohol was a factor in the accident for the other driver.  The victim had been a member of the Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department for the last five years.

            After investigating the accident, Police determined that a Chevrolet Silverado truck driven by a 23 year old man was heading north on Route 425, but was not driving in a straight line nor staying in a single lane.  As the victim was driving south on Route 425, the truck collided head-on into the victim’s car.  As a result, the victim’s car was thrown off the road into a field, while the truck stayed on the roadway.  The victim died at the scene and the truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

            According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), current data shows there have been 141 drunk driving fatalities in Maryland, which is actually down 13.5% from the prior year.  Last year, legislators strengthened the interlock device laws requiring their use by anyone convicted of drunk driving with a child passenger in the car.  MADD hopes that in 2015, the legislators pass a law requiring ignition interlock devices be used by all drivers who are convicted of drinking and driving with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08.

            Drunk driving fatalities are one of the most preventable types of deadly accidents that occur on the roadways.  A driver avoids this problem by simply not driving if he or she has been drinking alcohol.  There are so many alternative methods of transportation nowadays so that people should never feel the need to have to drive themselves home after drinking.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed by a drunk driver in Maryland and would like a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on personal injury cases please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 and schedule an appointment at our office in Greenbelt or throughout Maryland, or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/