Young Florida Driver Injured in Accident with SunRail
On Thursday, September 11, 2014, a young driver was injured in an accident with the SunRail transportation system. The incident occurred Old Lake Mary Road and West 25th street in Sanford, Florida right around 7:30pm at dusk. The vehicle was driven by a 19-year old male, whose name has not been released.
Witnesses say that the car collided with the engine car of the SunRail train, causing damage right below the engineer’s window. The engineer was not injured, despite the proximity to the crash. The locomotive did have some damage to the body, but it is unclear if there is any mechanical damage or failure.
The driver of the car was taken to Orlando Regional Medical center, and doctors have said they believe he will survive. There were 38 people on board the SunRail at the time of the accident. Many passengers said they were startled, but none of them have reported any injuries. SunRail transported them to the station and they were all transferred to another train to continue their journeys.
The cause of this accident is still unknown, but police are reviewing surveillance tapes from the SunRail to help get an answer. They said they would not speculate on the cause of the accident, until they have reviewed all available tapes and interviewed all the witnesses. There could be charges filed against the driver, after the investigation is complete. The Department of Transportation did report that the engineer of the SunRail said that the crossings arms were operational, and they were engaged before the crash.
This accident occurred at dusk, and we’d like to remind our readers and clients just how dangerous it can be to drive at this time of day and night. Dusk is actually one of the most dangerous times to drive a vehicle, because the sun is setting and affects the sight of many drivers. The setting sun can temporarily “blind” them, especially if they are not wearing sunglasses. While this was not determined to be the cause of this particular accident, the conditions at dusk have caused many other accidents in the past. Please be sure to wear the proper eyewear so you can see oncoming traffic clearly, but also turn on your headlights when the sun is at your back, so oncoming drivers can see you better. It will make the roads safer for everyone involved.
If you, or a loved one have been injured in an accident, contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
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.
