Law enforcement officers are often called upon to handle difficult and sometimes gruesome incidents. Though car accidents often prove to be routine, there are times when these calls involve horrific scenes that have been caused by impaired or otherwise negligent drivers. Recently, Tennessee police found more than they bargained for when they stopped a purportedly intoxicated driver.
According to the police report, a driver was observed having difficulty maintaining his position in a travel lane. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver purportedly shouted that he had to return home and proceeded to drive off. The officer followed the erratic motorist in with the goal of attempting a second traffic stop.
The man purportedly struck a pedestrian but failed to stop. He continued driving erratically until striking a telephone pole after flattening a tire on his car. The driver attempted to leave the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by police. Officers observed signs that indicated that the motorist was intoxicated. A police officer approached the car to switch off the engine, and at that time, he observed the upper torso of a man on the floorboard of the passenger side.
Tennessee police returned to the location where it was believed the victim was struck and discovered the man's remains, including his identification. The 29-year-old driver is facing several serious charges, including homicide by vehicle, and he was released on bail until further proceedings. The man does have a prior charge of intoxicated driving. These types of car accidents often leave a surviving family devastated by both the physical loss and the financial damages that are a direct result of a tragic and untimely death. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to pursue just compensation for those damages through a successful personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the parties who can be deemed responsible for these preventable tragedies.