Single-car accident in New York under investigation

State police in Albany are still in the process of investigating a crash that took place on the morning of Oct. 30. New York authorities responded to the car accident on the Thruway that injured two people. So far, they have not filed charges against the driver involved in the single-car crash, but charges may still be possible as the investigation continues to unfold. 

Details about the accident are sparse at the time of this report. It has been confirmed that around 10:40 a.m. a vehicle carrying the driver and one passenger was headed northbound somewhere between exits 22 and 23 when the accident occurred. For reasons that have not yet been confirmed, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which caused the car to leave the road and roll over several times in a wooded area. 

Both the driver and the passenger needed to be extricated from the wreck. They were taken to a medical center in Albany. Their current statuses are unknown. Police do not know why the driver lost control of the vehicle, but they have not ruled out recklessness, negligence or even intoxication at this time. 

Depending on the outcome of the New York police investigation, the driver involved in the car accident may yet face charges. However, even if no formal charges are filed, state law will allow the passenger to file a personal injury suit against the driver in civil court. A successful civil suit can result in the awarding of financial damages to the injured party, and it is only reliant on police evidence, not a criminal charge or conviction, to succeed. 

Source: timesunion.com, “Rollover crash on Thruway under investigation“, Oct. 30, 2016