Most Ohio residents have been aware of public awareness campaigns and educational efforts attempting to teach drivers the dangers of getting behind the wheel of vehicles after consuming alcohol. Despite the strong emphasis on drunk driving and the risks it poses to innocent people, too many people continue this behavior. In the process, innocent people are injured or even killed for no good reason.
Sadly, another example of this has happened recently in the western part of Columbus. In the wee hours of the morning on a weekend, construction crews had blocked off three of the lanes along Interstate 70 so that they could perform their work safely. The lanes were blocked in part by barrels that created what was meant to be a barricade. These barrels were not, however, able to prevent a minivan from getting through onto the closed lanes.
A man later discovered to be impaired by alcohol drove his vehicle through the barricade and, instead of stopping once he may have realized he should not be in those lanes, he kept driving. It is not clear if he even realized he was not supposed to be on that part of the freeway. Two construction workers were struck by the van. One of the workers sustained injuries said to be minor. The other was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Even if a drunk driver faces criminal charges, family members of people killed in these accidents may find it helpful to talk with an attorney in Ohio to learn how they may seek civil compensation.
Source: NBC4i, “Drunk driver hits, kills construction worker on I-70,” September 30, 2017
