Sparta – 2 Injured When Drunk Driver Strikes School Bus
A bus driver and a student sustained various injuries when a drunk driver struck the bus they were on Tuesday morning, November 26.
According to a statement from Sparta Police Sgt. John Lamon, a Honda driven by 60 year-old Rita McCormick rear-ended a stopped school bus on Lafayette Road at around 8:15 a.m. A 7 year-old student was walking towards his seat when the bus was struck.
The 7 year-old boy injured his wrist during the crash. Both the boy and the bus driver complained of back pains when emergency responders arrived. Both of them were released to visit their own respective doctors. McCormick was not injured in the crash.
McCormick was determined to have been consuming alcohol and was driving while intoxicated. She was charged with driving while intoxicated, two counts of assault by auto, careless driving, and reckless driving.
We would like to send our sympathies to the bus driver the a student injured in this incident. We understand how scary accidents like this can be. We hope they recover well.
Vehicular Accidents
Vehicular crashes are one of the most common causes of injuries and fatalities in the state of New Jersey. In a report published by the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accidents Investigation Unit, there were 591 recorded fatal crashes that occurred in 2017, which caused 624 fatalities.
In 158 of the 591 crashes, Driving While Intoxicated (alcohol and/or drugs) was listed as the major contributing factor. There were 174 people killed as a result of these 158 crashes. Speeding was another major contributing factor to these crashes being listed as a factor in 61 of the crashes. Driving while distracted seems to be the biggest factor as it was listed as a cause for 196 crashes.
We urge drivers to observe and follow the laws while driving, and to remain focused while driving so that they can react accordingly to situations that may suddenly pop up on the roadway. Drivers should be more careful when driving while visibility is low, and they should also check their car before going on the roadway. Being more diligent and prepared can help lessen accidents on the roads of New Jersey.
If someone you care about was killed or severely injured in an accident, there may be a lot going through your head. The NJ injury attorneys of Brach Eichler Trial Lawyers have helped people like you fight for justice. We will discuss all of your legal options with you, free of charge. Call (973) 364-8300 to get in touch with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.
Note: This blog reports on the types of cases our firm has extensive experience handling. It is painful to learn of the prevalence of these serious accidents, and it is our sincere hope that future catastrophes can be avoided. Our blog posts are written from scouring recent news stories. As more information is revealed, these stories may be updated. If the information in this blog article is outdated or false, please let us know so we can add updates or corrections.
Disclaimer: By showing the frequency of these serious accidents, Brach Eichler Trial Lawyers hopes that more will be done to prevent them. Another aim is to give readers information that can be used to help them reduce the likelihood they are involved in a serious accident. Content on our blog is not legal advice.