The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

In Oklahoma this week, a fatal automobile accident occurred which again illustrates the fact that “accidents” are not often, if ever, caused by chance. A woman, one Brittney Buford, driving either a 2005 Kia sedan or an SUV (reports differ) tried to make a U-turn through an opening in a highway median. That is illegal except for emergency vehicles.

The vehicle was rear-ended by a van (or SUV – reports differ) going either east or west (reports differ). A two-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother were ejected from the vehicle and were both in serious condition. The little girl was flown to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and her brother was driven there in an ambulance. The little girl died.

Another Child Seriously Injured

Another five-year-old was pinned under the vehicle’s wreckage for about 20 minutes and was also in serious condition and taken to St. Francis. There were also a baby (not injured) and a nine-year-old (minor injuries only) as well as a second woman in the vehicle. Neither woman was badly injured. None of the five children were wearing seatbelts or in car seats, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) officers.

The woman driving the van or SUV which struck the U-turning vehicle was not injured, and was wearing a seatbelt.

To have been rear-ended while or after making that illegal U-turn, Ms. Buford must have either not seen the approaching van or SUV (a large vehicle in either case), or must have taken a chance on getting ahead of it. She was asking for an accident, and also asking for injuries by not having the children restrained for safety.

If you have been injured, or if you have lost a loved one because of the reckless driving of another person, please call or email our auto accident attorneys today. We will be happy to give you a free consultation and case evaluation.

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