On Thursday morning, there was a distracted driving crash in Buncombe County. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened at about 8:15 a.m. on Old Leicester Highway. Very little information has been released, but we do know that an SUV flipped over beside the roadway, and a passenger’s limb was pinned under the wreckage for more than a half hour. First responders rushed to the scene, where they found that the driver had run off of the road and struck a pole before the vehicle overturned.
Buncombe County Distracted Driving Crash
It took EMS crews nearly 45 minutes to free the passenger who was pinned under the wreckage. As soon as the passenger was free, he was rushed to the hospital for treatment of injuries. That person was conscious and talking when he left the scene. Initial reports indicate that the driver was preoccupied with his phone at the time of the crash. He has been charged with having unsafe tires, carless and reckless driving and not wearing his seatbelt. That person was reportedly okay after the crash. This wreck could still be under investigation with law enforcement officials.
Distracted Driving by The Numbers
3,179 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014.
An additional 431,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014.
At any given daylight moment across the U.S., approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
As of December 2014, 169.3 billion text messages were sent in the U.S. every month.
Distracted Driving Accidents in Asheville
Distracted driving has become an epidemic in North Carolina and across the nation. Since distracted driving habits are often self-reported, much of the data associated with these crashes is thought to be conservative. In some cases, driver distraction might not be immediately apparent. After a crash with a suspected distracted driver, it’s a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case.
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a crash involving a distracted driver in Asheville or in any of the surrounding Western North Carolina communities, contact the skilled and proven team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 888-773-8388 for a free case consultation today.