San Antonio Police are warning people to stay off the roads when the conditions may be icy. There have already been three deaths in San Antonio due to black ice, which was also responsible for recently overturning a firetruck.
Police said that sleet and freezing rain were responsible for creating conditions that killed one driver on Saturday night around 9:45 p.m. on Culebra Road, around the 1300 block. Police stated that a San Antonio woman was driving eastbound on Culebra in a black Mazda Model 3 sedan, when she completely lost control of her vehicle due to black ice on the roadway and veered out of her lane and into oncoming traffic, where she was tragically T-boned by a large S.U.V. before being hit by two additional vehicles. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and a passenger from the S.U.V. were transported to University Hospital to receive treatment for their injuries, which are reportedly not life-threatening.
Similar icy conditions were responsible for another fatal crash on Sunday just before 7:00 a.m. A man was driving a Ford F-150 north on Interstate 35, near the 3800 block, when his vehicle spun out on black ice. He came to a stop facing oncoming traffic, and quickly exited the vehicle. However, a driver traveling in a maroon Chevy Impala also traveling northbound then lost control of their vehicle due to the black ice, colliding with the Ford F-150. The F-150 hit the east wall, and the driver was completely pushed off of the highway, dropping 21 feet off of the overpass to his death.
The third black-ice-related accident occured Sunday around 1:30 p.m. at the O’Conner-Weidener Roads intersection. An S.U.V. traveling southbound on O’Conner Road lost control of their vehicle due to black ice as they crossed an overpass. A Toyota Corolla traveling north hit their brakes in an attempt to avoid the S.U.V., but collided hard with the back of it, catapulting the front-seat passenger from the S.U.V. and into a guardrail, killing him instantly. Police officers stated that the ejected passenger had not been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The three individuals who perished in the car crashes have not yet been identified by police, and all three cases are still evolving, with more details being released.
Avoiding Inclement Weather Accidents
The Highway Patrol emphasizes the importance of staying home when conditions are not safe for driving. Although the weather is improving, it is still important to keep an eye out for any conditions that can create black ice, such as rain on a cold night, or sleet. Remember that in inclement weather, the posted speed limits do not apply in the same way. For instance, you may be penalized for reckless driving or even found negligent for driving at or below the posted speed limit in poor weather conditions. It is always necessary to adapt your speed to the conditions, rather than relying on the speed limit to tell you what is “safe.”
Contact a San Antonio Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash due to another driver’s negligence, Eric Ramos Law is here to help. Schedule your free consultation today to learn how we can help you navigate this process and receive the maximum possible amount of compensation for your injuries. Call today; there’s no fee until we win.