The untimely death of popular Hollywood actor Paul Walker in a fiery car crash has brought the dangers of motor vehicle accidents to the forefront of many Chicago residents’ minds. While some people may believe that the flames that engulfed Walker’s car were unusual, a recent area car accident shows that vehicle fires can start from almost any crash and do happen to everyday people.
A driver going the wrong way on Interstate 55 caused a head-on collision with a second vehicle. The impact of the two vehicles killed the wrong way driver and caused the other driver to suffer serious injury. A police officer happened to be driving by at the time of the crash and with the help of several other witnesses was able to pull the injured individual from his car before it was engulfed in flames.
The officer noted his surprise at the fire, claiming that in more than a decade on the police force he had never seen a car fire nor had he ever had to remove someone from a crash to save them from being burned. In most car accidents the victims are not taken out of their vehicles until medical personnel determine that it is safe to move them.
An accident investigation will reveal more details on how the wrong way driver came to be operating on Interstate 55 and what factors led to that driver’s fatal mistake. The driver pulled from the fiery wreck is recovering at an area hospital.
This local accident and the accident that claimed Paul Walker’s life show that motor vehicle accidents do not discriminate in their severity. Anyone who has suffered injury or loss as a result of a motor vehicle accident may consider speaking with a personal injury attorney to address their potential claims against those who contributed to their pain and suffering.
Source: NBC 5 Chicago, “Officer Rescues Driver from Burning Car in Fatal I-55 Crash,” Regina Waltroup, Dec. 1, 2013
