Williston Man Critically Injured in Wrong-Way Collision on U.S. 19

A 58-year-old Williston man is in critical condition after investigators claim he was involved in a collision that occurred while he was driving the wrong way on U.S. 19 in Citrus County.

The crash happened Wednesday shortly before 6 p.m. just inside the Levy-Citrus county line near River Road.

The 58-year-old man was driving southbound in the northbound inside lane for unknown reasons, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. At the same time the man was heading in the wrong direction, a 2000 Ford pick-up truck was traveling north in the same lane and a 2003 Nissan SUV was just behind the truck in the northbound outside lane.

The front of the man’s 2002 four-door Chevrolet struck the right front of the pick-up truck, which caused the truck to spin into the outside lane, according to investigators.

The Nissan SUV then hit the back of the man’s Chevrolet.

The man was transported to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He was last listed as being in critical condition.

The driver of the pick-up truck suffered minor injuries and was taken to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center. The driver of the SUV was not harmed.

The FHP is still investigating this crash.

Wrong-way collisions are usually very dangerous due to the exceptional amount of force that is involved. These head-on accidents are much more likely to result in severe injuries and wrongful death than other types of motor vehicle crashes. According to a 2012 study on wrong way collisions by the National Transportation Safety Board, around 360 people are killed every year in wrong-way auto accidents.

Head-on collisions can result in all types of catastrophic injuries, including:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Trauma
• Broken Bones and Fractures
• Head, Neck and Back Injuries
• Serious Lacerations
• Loss of Limbs
• Scarring and Disfigurement

These severe injuries usually require extensive surgery and medical treatment, not to mention rehabilitation and long-term care. Even with health insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses these injuries require can be much more than most people can afford. If you were injured in a head-on collision, a Citrus County Auto Accident Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can fight to recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to from the at-fault driver. Wrong-way driving is a form of negligent driving, and you should not have to suffer for someone else’s careless mistake. Your initial consultation is free, so please contact us today online or call 352-726-0078 to find out more information about filing a personal injury claim.

Photo credit: Brandon Christopher Warren / Foter.com / CC BY-NC