Sloan, Iowa Accident Can Be A Lesson in Law and Logic

Near Sloan, Iowa on September 12, 2009, around 8 pm police were called because of a collision between two cars on Highway 75 at mile marker 3, according to online news sources KCAU. A car driving northbound went into the ditch and back out, then “crossed the center line and collided head on with a minivan.” The reason for the driver’s loss of control is unknown. The driver was transported to Mercy Medical Center with injuries. In the minivan were two adults and two children who all suffered serious injuries and were brought to the same hospital as the driver. No other details are known.

This is old Highway 75. What caused the car to first go into the ditch and then to come back out of the ditch, onto the road bed and across the center line striking a minivan head-on. What a mess this one is. You've got 5 people, two adults and five children all injured - makes me wonder what was the distraction or what other cause could be a factor. Legally the issues are lookout, speed, control and reactions.

What will they say was the precipitating cause of this loss of control?

Was the driver distracted?

Were the passengers and driver engaged in a distraction?

Was alcohol involved and if so will a bar be pulled into this one?

Was there a defect in the car? Good tires – bad tires? Proper maintenance performed?

Did a deer run in front of the car?

How fast was the car traveling before the initial loss of control? Did the road conditions have anything to do with it?

Was the weather a factor? According to the news report it doesn’t seem to have been.

How experienced was the driver? What were the ages of the driver and passengers? Did they have cell phones in the car? On or off -  texting or calling?

The list goes on and on…