2 women dead following New York car accident

Two elderly women tragically lost their lives in a two-car crash on Route 12, according to local law enforcement.  The car accident was attended by New York authorities in Chenango around 1 p.m. on Sept. 15.  State police have confirmed their investigation is ongoing at the time of this report. 

According to the accident record, a 78-year-old woman was driving her vehicle south on Route 12 when she attempted to negotiate a legal pass of another car.  Unfortunately, she apparently lost control of the car at this time and moved into the northbound lanes.  She struck another vehicle, driven by an 81-year-old woman, head on. 

The woman whose vehicle was struck was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by arriving rescue personnel.  The other woman was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries but also passed away later in the day.  Police have not yet speculated publicly as to any extenuating circumstances that may have come into play in this car accident, including possible medication use or health problems in one or both drivers.  However, the investigation will likely remain open until a satisfactory answer has been provided to the families of both women. 

The tragedy of this car accident cannot be understated. However, it will fall to New York investigators to determine exactly what occurred in this fatal crash. If the woman whose vehicle veered into the northbound lanes is deemed responsible, which seems likely from the available evidence, the surviving family of the other driver will be entitled to file a wrongful death suit against the estate of the apparently negligent driver in a civil court setting.  

Source: wbng.com, “Two elderly women killed in Route 12 accident”, Nicky Hickling, Sept. 16, 2014