A woman was killed in a crash in Everett, Washington. Jourdan Bradley, 24, was allegedly racing her Corvette in the northbound lanes of I-5 at the time of the accident. According to KiroTV (10.10.14), witnesses saw a white Chevy SUV or pickup with a canopy racing her before the crash. The Corvette hit a tree and split in half.
Phillip Chumley, 31, a passenger in the Corvette, was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Witnesses told troopers the other vehicle stopped, backed up, looked at the scene and drove away.
Bradley’s father said he was driving “probably eight car lengths” behind his daughter, helping to transport a leather couch to her new house. He disputed the witness accounts that his daughter was racing. He said his daughter was an “extremely cautious driver” and believes that the other vehicle may have cut the Corvette off. He did not see the accident occur.
According to KiroTV, friends and family said her Corvette was her “dream car” and “she would never risk damaging it.”
An investigation was needed to determine whether the Corvette was racing at the time of the accident or not.
Street racing is illegal. Accidents caused by drag racing accidents are often catastrophic as these collisions typically involve high speeds and reckless driving. When drivers speed, they risk not only their own lives, but also the lives of their passengers and others who share the road.
Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and speeding has been identified over and over again as an extremely dangerous choice. In 2011, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 9,944 people died in speeding-related crashes.
In New York, a speeding driver who causes a crash can be held responsible for resulting injuries and-or property damage. A passenger should not have to suffer due to another person’s negligent behavior. Passengers who are injured in an auto accident caused by a driver who was racing or just speeding may have a claim against the driver of the car they were in. In cases where multiple people are at fault, the passenger may have a legal claim against the other driver or drivers, as well. An experienced lawyer can help an injured victim identify the responsible parties and tailor a strategy to help obtain full and fair compensation.
The KiroTV story cited is “Family says driver killed on I-5 was not racing before wreck.”