On Monday night, a wrong-way crash involving multiple cars and two semi trucks sent at least two people to the hospital. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened on I-40, near the Wiggins Road exit. Initial reports indicate that 42-year-old Kristen Williams got on I-40 going the wrong way. She was headed east in the westbound lanes. She struck a semi truck head-on, another semi truck and a pickup truck. Although Williams is listed in critical condition at the hospital, she has been charged with DWI.

Pickup Truck Driver Injured

First responders and crews had portions of the roadway shut down for nearly two and a half hours. In addition to Williams, the driver of the pickup truck was also transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries. We don’t know the extent of injuries involved, but we do know that person has been treated and released. There is still no word on the extent of Williams’ injuries or if her condition has stabilized.

U.S. Drunk Driving Stats

  • Approximately, one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the U.S. involve drunk drivers.
  • In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
  • In 2013, 65 percent of people killed in drunk driving crashes were the drunk drivers themselves.
  • Every year, drunk driving crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion.
  • In 2013, approximately 1 in 5 child passenger deaths occurred in drunk driving crashes.

Drunk Driving Accidents in Asheville

Even with increased enforcement, we typically see a lot of injury-causing and fatal drunk driving crashes in North Carolina and across the nation. Labor Day is an especially deadly holiday, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is getting ready for their annual anti-drunk driving safety campaign. Law enforcement in Asheville and the surrounding communities will likely be stepping up enforcement too.

After a Drunk Driving Accident in Asheville

Car accidents involving drunk drivers can leave victims in the hospital, out of work, or worse. These crashes can often involve head-on collisions or other devastating types of wrecks. If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in an accident involving a drunk driver, contact the skilled legal team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 866-397-2897 for a free consultation.