An accident on the Interstate 275 Howard Frankland Bridge left one person dead and one person with serious injuries. The bridge also had to be closed in one direction for hours while authorities investigated the accident.
The accident apparently involved a failed lane change. The driver of a pickup tried to move over a lane but wound up in the space of another personal vehicle, causing a collision. The pickup flipped over as a result of the collision, and the driver of the passenger vehicle was forced into the outside rail of the bridge.
According to authorities, the driver of the passenger vehicle survived but suffered serious injuries in the car accident. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
While Floridians can navigate them safely if they are careful, bridges present special hazards to motorists which require some additional caution while driving. When driving on a bridge, motorists have only so much room to maneuver. Also, the sides of a bridge are typically made of hard material which can cause significant damage and a very sudden stop. In other words, drivers do not get the benefit of a shoulder and embankment. Indeed, in this case, it seems that one vehicle wound up slamming into the barrier of the bridge.
These are both good reasons why motorists must slow down and use extra caution on a bridge, particularly when changing lanes. Failing to do so could cause a serious accident which could leave victims and their families in need of compensation.
