Wrong-way driver causes crash, injures 4 in Gloucester

What would you do if you saw a pickup truck traveling toward you in your lane? Would you swerve to the right and go off the shoulder? Would you swerve to the left and go into the pickup truck’s lane so you could pass each other? When you have only seconds to react — what would you do?

It was reported that on a Friday night in Gloucester, a driver was faced with exactly that decision. The driver chose to swerve to the left, into the wrong lane, no doubt hoping to avoid the pickup truck. However the pickup truck over-corrected and came back into the proper lane where the pickup truck t-boned the car in a serious car accident.

The accident took place at about 8:30 at night on Essex Avenue. At least one injured person was airlifted to Beverly Hospital for treatment. One of the passengers was an off-duty state trooper. The pickup truck was driven by a woman of an unreported age. The car with the off-duty trooper had another injured passenger and an injured driver.

An investigation has begun to determine the exact cause of the accident. It was reported however that the pickup truck driver had been observed driving erratically prior to the crash.

In some cases a medical emergency can cause erratic driving. In other instances it is alcohol or drug impairment. It appears that the pickup truck driver may have been at fault. When negligence is involved, those who have suffered personal injuries can sue in civil court for compensation, perhaps including compensation for pain and suffering.

Source: Gloucester Times, “Update: Crash closes Essex Avenue; 4 injured,” Andrea Holbrook, Dec. 15, 2012