One person is dead and another seriously injured after an Ohio accident that took place on Interstate 480 in Cleveland on April 5. Police say that the driver who caused the accident was intoxicated at the time. The fatal accident occurred when one vehicle entered the highway’s exit ramp.

The crash happened at about 11:30 p.m. when a 40-year-old man used the exit ramp at West 130th Street to enter I-480 West. He was traveling eastbound when his vehicle collided head-on with another car that was occupied by two people. The passenger in that vehicle, a 22-year-old woman from Cleveland, suffered fatal injuries. Emergency personnel pronounced her dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the vehicle suffered serious injuries, and paramedics took him to MetroHealth Medical Center for treatment.

The 40-year-old man also suffered injuries. An emergency crew also took him to MetroHealth Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. The man was reportedly impaired when the accident occurred, and after his release from the hospital, he was taken into custody. He is currently facing charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault. Sources say that drunk driving charges are pending.

Families who lost a loved one in an auto accident could file a wrongful death suit against the driver even if he or she is facing charges. The family could be awarded compensatory damages that may include medical and funeral expenses, loss of future earnings and loss of society of the deceased person. A personal injury attorney may assist surviving family members through the process of filing a suit.

Source: NewsNet5 Cleveland, “Passenger killed in I-480 wrong way crash,” newsnet5.com Staff, April 6, 2014

Source: Cleveland.com, “Man taken into custody in connection with fatal I-480 crash“, Evan MacDonald, April 06, 2014