3 people dead following car accident in New York

Three people are dead following a serious 3-car crash in Ontario County on Dec. 16, according to local sources. The car accident was responded to by New York authorities around 10:50 a.m. So far, criminal charges have not been filed against the driver responsible for the crash, but the investigation is ongoing at the time of this report. 

According to the preliminary report released by police, a vehicle was headed westbound and failed to stop at a stop sign. Traveling into the intersection, the vehicle struck the rear end of another car headed north. This, in turn, spun the car into a truck also in the intersection. Several other vehicles were run off the road as a result, but none of the people in those vehicles were injured. 

Two passengers and the driver of the truck were all killed in the collision. The driver of the initial vehicle was checked over by medical personnel on the scene but ultimately did not need to go to the hospital. So far, police have neglected to file charges against this individual. However, it seems likely that charges will be pending if the driver indeed failed to observe road signs. 

Should New York police determine the first driver is indeed at fault for the car accident, criminal charges may be filed. However, charges or a conviction are not required for the families of the deceased individuals to file wrongful death charges against the driver. Assuming it is determined by appropriate evidence of negligence that the driver was at least partially responsible for the fatal crash, these suits could be successful in a civil court setting. 

Source: democratandchronicle.com, “Three dead in Phelps crash“, Max Schulte, Dec. 16, 2014