At approximately 2 a.m. on May 18, a fatal accident took the life of a 49-year-old Sparta man in Bernards Township on Route 287. A 25-year-old man from Mendham was going north and lost control of his vehicle, and struck the center median of the highway. Then the car spun out cross all three lanes of the highway, crashing into the guardrail on the right side of the road before it came to rest in the right and center lanes, according to police.
The Sparta man was also heading north on 287 and hit the wrecked vehicle. When he exited his car, he was struck by another car driven by a 59-year-old Human Services police officer from Lake Hiawatha.
At around 2:40 a.m., the Sparta man was pronounced dead at the scene. His 39-year-old wife, who was a passenger in the vehicle with him, suffered minor injuries and was treated at Morristown Medical Center, according to police. The driver of the third car was also treated there for minor injuries. He was not on the highway at the time of the accident because he was called to help but due to other business.
The driver from Mendham was also treated for minor injuries, and police stated that he was charged with DWI. They also said that additional criminal charges were pending.
The spouse of the deceased man could be considering filing a wrongful death claim for compensation for the loss of her husband as well as a personal injury claim for her car accident injuries. A personal injury attorney could help by examining police reports to determine who was at fault in the accident and exploring the options available to the widow. She could be eligible for compensation for medical bills, final expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
Source: New Jersey Hills, “Mendham man charged with drunk driving in fatal accident“, May 19, 2014