Tragic car accident kills father of three

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On Monday, a tragic car accident on the Garden State Parkway left a father of three dead after a tire and rim flew off another car and into his windshield.

The 47-year-old man had reportedly been driving a white Hyundai Sonata in the southbound lanes of the Garden State near exit 139 when a tire and rim flew off an older model of a Honda Accord travelling in the opposing lane, went across the median and crashed through the man’s windshield, completely shattering it.

The man had been travelling home with his 25-year-old daughter at the time of the incident. Fortunately, his daughter managed to escape the accident unharmed.

Traffic on the Garden State was backed up traffic for miles following the accident.

Sources say the accident victim was a devoted family man, and that his sons were unable to speak about their loss on camera because of their grief.

According to traffic safety specialist from AAA, accidents caused by objects from other vehicles are hard to defend yourself against since you often cannot see the object coming, and even if you do, there is no time to react.

The best way to prevent these types of accidents, he said, is for each driver to ensure their vehicle is properly maintained. On an older vehicle, lug nuts can loosen and cause wear, making the tire less secure.

Police are currently conducting an investigation, and have impounded both cars involved in the accident.

Accidents like these truly could happen to anyone. While there isn’t much one can do to prevent these types of accidents from happening, there are legal remedies to deal with the consequences. The man’s family would surely be able to bring a wrongful death claim against the driver of Honda. While such a claim would not bring their loved one back, it does make it possible for them to deal with some of the financial consequences of their loss, which is the last thing they should have to worry about.

Source: CBS New York, “N.J. Man Killed After Tire Flies Through Windshield On GSP,” 1 March 2011.