Salem 2-Vehicle Crash Injures Man

There are ample warnings about the dangers of taking shortcuts in all kinds of disciplines - from scientific research to construction to home repair. The moral of the story is the same: cutting corners can lead to disaster. Yet people still do it.

One such decision on the roads led to another person getting hurt this week. On Thursday afternoon in Salem Township, a 26-year old Centralia man decided to cut across McMackin Street while driving his Nissan 4x4 pickup truck around 3:15 pm. Unfortunately, the truck slammed into a Chevrolet Suburban which was traveling on College Street about a block south of Route 50.

Witnesses say that the SUV crashed into a utility pole (hard enough to leave a gap) before hitting a no parking sign. The driver of the sport utility vehicle, a 23-year old man from Salem, reportedly banged his head against the windshield and was bloodied and disoriented immediately after the auto accident. He was taken to Salem Township Hospital with head injuries. The Centralia man, who was unhurt, was cited by police for failure to yield at a stopped intersection.

There's no word on exactly why the pickup truck driver was trying to cut across the intersection, although the investigation into the crash is ongoing. But it appears that the SUV driver has solid grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the Centralia man. The plaintiff could probably collect reimbursement for medical expenses from the defendant in such a case.

But since the victim sustained a head injury, it is quite possible that his health could be affected for some time to come. There's even a chance that the 23-year old's life may be permanently affected by this crash if the head injuries are serious enough. In this worst-case scenario, a settlement or jury award might be even higher so as to reflect the reduced quality of life that the victim must endure.