Wrong-Way Driver on State Road 417 Strikes Van, Injuring Four Children, Two Adults

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 2, 2011

A driver traveling in the wrong direction on State Road 417 in Seminole County died recently when he struck a van, injuring the two adults and four children inside. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the fatal crash occurred around 1:15 a.m. near the intersection with State Road 434. Troopers say the report is still under investigation, and they did not yet know why the 22-year-old DeLand man was traveling northbound in the southbound lane or whether alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

They said the wrong-way driver was driving a 2000 Chevrolet that struck the left front of a 2011 Kia minivan driven by a 34-year-old Miami man. The impact drove the van into a guardrail, pushing it partially over the rail. The driver of the van, a 44-year-old passenger and four girls riding in the van suffered undisclosed injuries and went to area hospitals for treatment. The accident closed the southbound lanes of S.R. 417 for nearly six miles during investigation of the accident and clearing of debris.

Although toxicology tests had not yet revealed whether or not the wrong-way driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the sad fact of the matter is that drivers heading in the wrong direction on a divided highway are often driving while impaired. Victims have little time to react to unexpected oncoming traffic and must contend with hospital bills, lost time at work, potential long-term disability and other serious and expensive problems through no fault of their own. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When you or a close family member suffers injury due to a negligent driver, you understandably want to know what your legal options are for seeking fair and just compensation for your injuries and other damages. If you’re injured by a negligent driver in Central Florida and want to speak with an attorney, call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham. Since 1977, Mr. Cunningham has been a fierce advocate of victims’ rights, and he works hard to help each client receive the maximum possible compensation for injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call his law offices at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today, and get an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney on your side!

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.