On Monday night, two people died in a wrong-way crash on I-26. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the Henderson County wreck happened at about 9:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes, near mile marker 50. Initial reports indicate that an elderly male driver was headed the wrong way and crashed into a pickup truck head on. First responders, crews and investigators were on the scene until about 11:00 p.m., and both drivers were killed in the crash.
There’s no word on why the elderly driver was going the wrong direction. There is also no information on whether or not there were any passengers in either vehicle, or if anybody else was injured in the wreck. No names have been released, and the crash is likely still under investigation with law enforcement authorities.
Elderly Driver Safety in North Carolina
Although very little information has been released, elderly driver safety is becoming an increasingly important topic with an aging baby boomer population. Along with age comes a decline in vision, physical health and cognitive function. This means it is absolutely critical to ensure older drivers have all the tools necessary to safely navigate the roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has great online materials for helping families bring up the topic of safe driving with older loved ones.
Older “Drive Well Toolkit”
The NHTSA offers a helpful “Drive Well Toolkit” that is dedicated to promoting older driver safety and mobility in communities across the U.S. The toolkit gives families, loved ones, older drivers and concerned community members resources for improving roadway safety for older drivers and all other roadway users. Community building, older driver training events and education and advocacy material are all included in the Drive Well Toolkit for older drivers.
Older Driver Safety in Asheville
WLOS ABC News Channel 13 also recently reported on older driver health assessments in Asheville. An assessment can be scheduled with a local healthcare provider and can help give older drivers and their family members peace of mind about driving safety and limitations. The team at Davis Law Group, P.A. sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the two people who were killed in this terrible crash.