Savannah-Chatham police department investigators say that a local man was killed when an SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and started a five-vehicle pileup on the Islands Expressway. The traffic accident happened at about 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, closing the westbound lanes of President Street for several hours while police investigated the scene.
According to the police report, a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling west on the highway when the driver lost control, crossed the median and crashed into an eastbound 2008 Nissan Sentra. A 2006 Scion xA was traveling east and was hit by debris from the initial crash, and a 2007 Ford Mustang hit a Hyundai Sonata that stopped for the accident.
Police detained the two men who were in the Tahoe, and one was taken to a hospital. Since each claimed that the other was driving, authorities were unsure which man was behind the wheel. The 26-year-old male driver of the Sentra was killed instantly. The 65-year-old male driver of the xA was not injured while the 24-year-old female driver of the Sonata suffered minor injuries. A 58-year-old female driver of the Mustang was taken to the hospital after complaining of pain.
The relatives of the Sentra driver could file a wrongful death claim against the driver of the Tahoe when police determine which man was driving the vehicle. If the claim is a success, the relatives could secure damages to cover the man’s funeral and the loss of future income that they expected the man to provide if he had not been killed in the car accident. If the relatives seek the loss of future income, they might be required to prove that they are struggling financially as a result of the man’s death.
Source: Savannah Now, “UPDATE: 1 dead in Islands Expressway 5-car crash; police seeking information“, Dash Coleman, February 28, 2014