Man Dies in Car Accident into Canal
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a man died recently after the car that he was driving plunged into a canal in western Palm Beach County. Identified as David A. Holligan, Jr. by the Highway Patrol, Mr. Holligan was traveling northbound on U.S. Route 27 just south of South Bay at around 7:40 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle.
According to the police report, Mr. Holligan was driving a 2013 Kia Optima when the car crossed the highway’s median into the southbound lanes and plunged into the canal. Witnesses notified the authorities at around 7:45 p.m. when they saw the car’s taillights as it submerged into the water. Divers found Mr. Holligan inside the vehicle at the bottom of the 25 foot deep, 40 foot wide canal at around 9:00 p.m. and he was declared dead at the scene.
Divers continued to search the vehicle and surrounding area to ensure that there were no other passengers in the car at the time of the accident. They confirmed that he was alone in the car at the time of the crash and authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
Florida Car Accidents
Florida leads the nation in the number of drowning deaths that occur as a result of a car accident by a wide margin. The number of people who drown inside their vehicles every year across the state is disheartening and disconcerting. A review of federal crash data shows that between 2008 and 2012, a total of 49 people drowned inside their vehicles in Florida because of a car accident. Texas is a distant second with only 18 car accident drownings in the same time period, followed by Indiana with 14 fatalities, and Louisiana and Arizona with 10 deaths each.
However, some believe that those numbers actually understate the severity of the problem. Reviewing the data from between 2004 and 2007 the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) found that Florida had an average of 57 deaths per year from car accident drownings, compared to 384 nationwide.
The most dangerous county for this type of car accident is Palm Beach, which has more recorded deaths of drowning because of a car accident than any other county in Florida. It is followed by Broward and then Miami-Dade. Orange County, Duval, Collier, and Lee counties are all tied for fourth place in the number of car accident drownings across the state. In-car drownings account for about two percent of vehicle deaths every year in Florida, twice the national average.
Call Our Car Accident Attorneys
Car accidents are always a serious matter, but when an accident also involves a body of water the results can be particularly devastating. At Gary Roberts & Associates, we understand how serious a car accident can be and are here to help. Call or contact our experienced personal injury attorneys now for a free and private review of your claims.
