According to New Jersey state police officers, a 71-year-old New York City man allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of his car, causing a chain reaction collision involving four vehicles. The incident happened on the Garden State Parkway on April 6 around 8:30 p.m. in the highway’s left lane near mile marker 168.5.
Authorities indicated the man rear-ended another vehicle, a 2006 Buick, with his 2012 Lincoln. The 68-year-old Buick driver’s passenger, a 66-year-old woman, was transported by emergency responders to Hackensack University Hospital after suffering injuries deemed serious. The Buick driver received minor injuries.
The force of the initial collision sent the Buick colliding into a 2006 Pontiac. In turn, the Pontiac then hit a 2012 Volkswagen. Police reportedly charged the 71-year-old driver of the Lincoln with vehicular assault following the accident. There is no word on whether they believe alcohol or drugs were involved or if the man was taken into custody. Following the accident, police closed all of the northbound lanes around mile marker 168 in the Washington Avenue area.
In the event a driver falls asleep behind the wheel and then causes a car accident, the injured victims may be able to recover damages to compensate them for their losses. Damages are potentially recoverable through filing personal injury civil lawsuits, and it is not dependent upon any criminal charges or convictions. Injured victims may want to seek guidance from a personal injury attorney in order to ensure that their lawsuit is properly framed and filed and that the appropriate amount and types of damages are requested.
Source: NorthJersey.com, “Police: NYC man fell asleep at wheel, touched off GSP chain-reaction crash in Woodcliff Lake,” Stefanie Dazio, April 7, 2015.
