fatigued driver

2 Injured When Driver Falls Asleep on Hampton Roads Interstate

by admin@gotechark.com | July 21st, 2011

July 21, 2011

A Capron, Virginia, man fell asleep at the wheel very early Thursday morning and wrecked his vehicle on Interstate 664 near Newport News, Virginia. Both he and a passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash. It is not known whether or not they were wearing seatbelts.

The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel when the sleepy driver drifted off the highway. He then awoke and over-corrected, jerking his 2001 Ford back onto the road. The Virginia State Police Department report that the man’s vehicle flipped several times.

The man and his passenger were both transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital via ambulance. Immediately following the accident, the southbound lanes of Interstate 664 were closed to enable the life-flight helicopter Nightingale to land, but the helicopter was later canceled. The northbound lanes were open again by 5 a.m. on Thursday.

The driver has been charged with reckless driving.

Alcohol is not said to be a factor in the crash.

Read more.

What do you think can be done to discourage fatigued drivers from getting behind the wheel in Virginia?

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a Virginia auto accident, the injury lawyers at Lowell Stanley can help.