New Albany, Indiana - 3 Killed, 2 Injured in Suspected Drunk Driving Crash on I-265

Head-On Collision Involving Suspected Drunk Driver on I-265 Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Injured

Updated: 7/13/2020

Three people were killed and two others were hospitalized with serious injuries after police say a suspected drunk driver going the wrong way on I-265 caused a head-on collision.

Shortly before 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, several people called the police to report that a white KIA Sportage SUV was traveling the wrong way, going northbound in the southbound lanes of I-65. The car then turned onto I-265 going westbound in the eastbound lanes.

Two minutes after these initial reports, callers reported witnessing a head-on collision between the SUV and a white passenger car near the 5.4 mile-marker in Floyd County.

The KIA driver, 31-year-old Taylor Barefoot, was airlifted to University Hospital in Louisville with serious injuries.

The driver of the white car, 21-year-old Taylor D. Cole, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in that vehicle, 22-year-old Leah Renee Onstott, was hospitalized at the University Hospital in Louisville, where she later died.

Two child passengers in the back seat of the white car were hospitalized at Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville. One of those minors – Cole’s son – later died. The other – Onstott’s son – is still hospitalized and his condition is unknown.

Investigators suspect that alcohol was a factor in this crash. An investigation is ongoing.

Can You File a Lawsuit For a Drunk Driving Crash in Indiana?

Attorney contributor Jeff Gibson represents people who have been injured by drunk drivers and the families of fatal DUI crash victims. He often deals with situations where victims come to him with statements such as “I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance.” We’ve asked Brian to share some thoughts on how these victims and families can recover financial compensation in Indiana, including through different types of lawsuits:

Each year, far too many families are forced to endure the unimaginable tragedy of losing loved ones in crashes caused by drunk drivers. Along with the grief they suffer, many families are also faced with financial difficulties as a result of these tragedies. This is why it’s important to be aware of your legal options, including your right to financial compensation.

Drunk drivers can be held liable for injuries or deaths they’ve caused through personal injury lawsuits or wrongful death lawsuits. Additionally, Indiana and many other states have dram shop laws, which allow alcohol vendors to be held liable for injuries or deaths caused by their customers.

According to Indiana dram shop laws, alcohol vendors can be sued for serving drunk drivers if:

• the person who served the drunk driver knew that the customer was intoxicated at the time, and
• this intoxication was a foreseeable cause of death or injuries suffered.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed after being hit by a drunk driver, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced DUI crash victim lawyers.

Source

https://www.wane.com/top-stories/three-dead-after-wrong-way-driver-causes-crash-on-i-265/