People in New York City and others elsewhere know the dangers of drunk driving. However, people may not realize how dangerous fatigued driving can be. A recent fatal accident in New York may have occurred as a result of driver fatigue.
Authorities say that a van crashed into a dump truck around 7:45 a.m. along the New York State Thruway recently. Ten people were in the van at the time of the crash. Three people died in the accident, including an infant. It appeared that the people inside the van were returning home after a vacation in Florida. The dump truck was barely moving at the time of the crash. The driver was following behind two workers who were picking up trash along the side of the highway. The dump truck was equipped with a lighted arrow board. The driver of the van, a 27-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash along with a 1-month-old child. A 29-year-old woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. Another 29-year-old woman was injured in the crash and was first listed in serious condition. Six children between the ages of 2 and 13 were also injured in the accident. Four of the children were first listed in critical condition. Authorities say some of the children were not properly restrained in safety seats. Authorities suspect that the people inside the van had been traveling through the night. The driver may have been fatigued, causing him to veer off the road. Source: ABC News, “Van Crashes Into Dump Truck in NY; 3 Dead, 8 Hurt,” April 18, 2013