A 34-year-old La Vergne man was killed on Nov. 26 in a multiple-vehicle collision on I-24. According to reports, the accident occurred around 11:50 p.m. when a chain-reaction crash resulted in the man's death on I-24 east near the Sam Ridley Parkway exit ramp.
According to authorities with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the LaVergne man's Chrysler was stopped in the right lane near the merge lane of where vehicles enter I-24 from the Sam Ridley Parkway. While he was stopped, a 31-year-old Murfreesboro man driving a 1989 Honda Accord struck the Chrysler from behind.
The LaVergne man apparently stepped out of his vehicle to investigate the accident. As he stood outside of his car in the traffic lane, a Ford Escape reportedly swerved to avoid the Honda, striking the man instead. The Escape then rolled across the interstate and was hit by two other vehicles; a Ford Focus and a Hyundai Sonata. The drivers of the Escape, the Focus and the Hyundai were not injured. The Chrysler driver was pronounced dead at the accident scene while the Honda driver did suffer injuries. The pileup resulted in the closure of the eastbound lanes until 2:30 a.m. while troopers conducted their investigation and cleaned up the scene.
Drivers have a duty to be aware of the traffic around them while driving, including traffic that may be slowed or stopped ahead of them. When a person is killed in a rear-end collision accident caused by a negligent driver, the family of the victim may be able to hold the negligent driver civilly liable in a personal injury lawsuit. Through a lawsuit, families may be able to be compensated for their losses.