One person was killed and two more injured in a head-on collision near Penrose in Southern Colorado on Feb. 24. One of the vehicles involved in the crash ended up in flames after the collision.
The Colorado State Patrol reports that the deadly car accident occurred about 4 miles north of Penrose on Colorado 115. A northbound 1998 Honda Civic, driven by a 41-year-old man, travelled into the southbound lanes into the path of oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a southbound 2001 Dodge 2500 pick-up truck. The Honda finally stopped on the southbound lanes and burst into fire, which eventually engulfed the entire vehicle.
The driver of the Honda was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The other driver suffered major injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. A passenger in the pick-up truck was also injured; however, the passenger’s injuries were minor. Police were investigating the incident to determine what had caused the crash. Factors such as speeding, impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs, distracted driving and road and weather conditions often play a role in car crashes.
A person injured in an accident of this type might still consider filing a personal injury claim, even if it is determined by a police investigation that the driver liable for the injuries was killed in the accident. If the victim chooses to file a claim against the driver’s estate or insurance company, and the claim is successful, the injured victim might receive compensation for non-economic damages, such as for the pain and suffering, and for economic damages, such as for medical expenses and lost wages.