Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by a number of factors, not the least of which is human error. While lapses in judgment or loss of concentration on the highway can lead to a serious auto wreck, mechanical problems can also cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. In those types of cases, defective vehicle equipment is a likely reason for a crash.
As a Maryland car accident lawyer, I realize that every traffic wreck has its own characteristics, which means that no two accidents can be treated quite the same. All the more reason to enlist the services of a qualified legal professional, especially in situations where someone has lost their life in tragic wreck possibly caused by another individual’s negligence.
A short time ago, a young woman was killed on I-70 in Howard County when she apparently lost control of her vehicle while trying to avoid another, slower moving vehicle. According to police reports, 24-year-old Ashley Marie Matthews was driving a Ford Explorer carrying her and two other passengers. The sport utility vehicle (SUV) was traveling west on I-70 in Ellicott City when it came upon an unidentified white-colored SUV, which was reportedly going slower than Matthew’s Ford.
Apparently in an attempt to avoid hitting the other vehicle, Matthews tried to steer her truck around the other vehicle but could not maintain control of the Ford, according to Maryland State Police. As a result, the Explorer apparently rolled over fatally injuring the driver and seriously injuring the other two passengers.
Emergency responders arriving at the crash site declared Matthews dead at the scene. The other two passengers, 27-year-old Brandon Phillip Gaskins and 22-year-old Trevell Leigh Brooks, were taken transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment. At the time of the news report, Gaskins was listed in serious condition; Brooks reportedly had non-life-threatening injuries. Based on initial police findings, alcohol and speed were likely major factors in the crash.
State police identify I-70 crash victim, BaltimoreSun.com, January 2, 2011