CALDWELL COUNTY, K.Y. — Melissa Pederson, a 43-year-old Eddyville woman, suffered serious injuries Oct. 17 in a rollover accident on Archie Ortt Road.
Pederson swerved to miss a deer in the 2000 block of Archie Ortt Road at about 5:30 p.m. and veered off the roadway, according to a local news report. The driver over-corrected, causing her pickup truck to roll on its top.
First responders transported Pederson by EMS to Caldwell County Hospital, where she was then flown by Air Evac to an Evansville hospital.
No additional information about Pederson’s condition or the crash investigation was immediately available.
COMMENTARY ON ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
I am saddened to learn that Ms. Pederson sustained serious injuries in this rollover accident. Crashes involving large animals, especially deer, are on the rise despite more than 30 mitigation techniques that have been implemented by government agencies to reduce them, according to a comprehensive study by the U.S. Department of Transportation Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Study: Report to Congress.
Collision with a large animal is difficult to anticipate or to avoid. It can happen in a moment’s notice with no warning at all. In this instance, Ms. Pederson over-corrected to avoid hitting the animal and rolled her vehicle. Rollovers, such as this one, are far too common, particularly among light trucks and SUVs. I have represented many clients in similar accidents all across the nation. I am distraught that some auto manufacturers cut corners to save money. This irresponsible behavior costs billions of dollars in human suffering and loss of life.
To read more about vehicle rollovers, read my article The Making of an Epidemic. As a responsible citizen, I will continue to do what I can to raise public awareness about the dangers of poor vehicle design and to influence automakers to implement improved engineering and safety features in their vehicles.
I hope for Ms. Pederson’s speedy recovery.
Disclaimer: At Ammons Law, we are constantly seeking to improve the quality and safety of our roads and highways. We post these articles to help improve safety within our community. All of the information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.
