Erie, PA (May 12, 2023) – On Thursday afternoon, May 11, a fatal two-car collision occurred on West 12th Street in Erie, according to officers with the Erie Police Department.
After the incident was reported at about 2:20 p.m. near West 12th Street and Weschler Avenue, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook announced Friday that a 41-year-old man who police claimed was a passenger in one of the cars died at UPMC Hamot.
Erie officers say that the deceased victim was a passenger in a 2016 Kia Sorento that was headed westbound on West 12th Street when it rear-ended a stopped 2021 International flatbed tractor-trailer.
The police said the male driver of the Kia, who was 51 years old, was also brought to the hospital. The severity of his injuries and current condition both remain unknown in the interim. It’s unclear if the driver of the truck suffered any injuries.
An investigation is ongoing, and police have not said whether citations are pending.
Our deepest condolences go out to the deceased victim’s family. Our thoughts are with the injured victims in hopes of their full recovery.
Fatal Traffic Accidents in Pennsylvania
Multi-lane interstates, highways, and other large, heavily-traveled thoroughfares, especially those that pass through our densely-populated cities, have a reputation for being among the most dangerous places in the country for catastrophic car accidents.
Too many people are killed or injured in traffic accidents on these roads every year, especially in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In fact, the latest data show that deaths are on the rise in our state. Even though there was less traffic on the roads in 2020, the rate of fatalities rose to nearly 1,130. Moreover, consistent with national trends, the number of traffic deaths across Pennsylvania increased again in 2021, this time by roughly 9% to 1,230.
Such accidents can occur in the blink of an eye, particularly when drivers are reckless or ignore the rules of the road. Every motorist has a legal obligation to drive carefully, avoiding actions that could endanger the lives of other motorists or cause harm and injuries to those sharing our roads. Unfortunately, not all motorists fulfill this tacit obligation. Careless drivers endanger everyone on the road and can cause serious injuries or even deaths.
Needless to say, Pennsylvania has a complex legal system, and you will likely encounter obstacles and problems for which you may not have the answers. For this reason and more, it’s important to consult a lawyer specializing in car accidents if you’ve been hurt in a collision.
Thankfully, an attorney can help you with every step of the claims process, from gathering evidence of negligence to meeting the state’s requirements for filing.
If you or a loved one were hurt in the accident, you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.
Our skilled Erie wrongful death attorneys will fight aggressively to protect your rights and provide you the best chance of recovering a full settlement if a Pennsylvania car accident has left you with injuries or resulted in a loved one’s death.
Our lawyers will help you navigate the complex legal processes required to pursue compensation for all your losses successfully. If you need fast assistance and individualized attention to get you through this difficult time, please contact (215) 600-0681 to speak with our Philadelphia injury accident attorneys about your case.
Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, local and state police incident reports, social media platforms, as well as eyewitness accounts about serious accidents that take place in Pennsylvania. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, please contact Spear Greenfield Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most accurate information available. A post will be removed upon request.
Disclaimer: The photos used in this post were not taken at this accident scene. All information contained in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.
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