Tuesday night just before midnight, Crystal Fuentes, who was 22, died as a result of a fatal car accident, in a single vehicle crash when she lost control of her car. Patch Media reported that the vehicle went off the road, hit a grassy area, and spun around. Fuentes was ejected from the car. Central Islip-Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance transported her to the Southside Hospital in Bay Shore where she was pronounced dead. Police are still investigating the crash for causes and the vehicle is under inspection.
The driver’s ejection was one notable factor in the accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) individuals are three times more likely to sustain fatal injuries when ejected from a vehicle. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informs us that people not wearing seat belts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from vehicles during crashes.
The importance of wearing seat belts or other restraints when driving or riding in a car cannot be emphasized too greatly. Unfortunately most drivers and passengers who have died in vehicle accidents (about 53 percent in 2009) were not wearing seat belts or other types of restraints. It is vital for children to be restrained by car seats.
Losing a loved one is a tragedy whenever it occurs, but during the holidays this sort of accident weighs very heavily on families.
With winter weather approaching, roads can become treacherous due to ice and snow. Even though we don’t know whether Crystal was wearing her seat belt, our Long Island attorneys understand taking safety precautions and We urge all motorists to buckle up, wear your seat belts, whether in the front or back of the car, drive safely and enjoy the holiday season.