Gainesville police believe crash caused by alcohol and speeding

From beautiful homes to glimpses of the ocean, Florida drivers may see a lot of things while traveling on the road. But one of the more terrifying images a driver could see is in their rearview mirror: a speeding vehicle behind with no sign of stopping.

Seeing that image could immediately conjure up the anticipation of a car accident. But when a car is coming up behind your vehicle, there is little time to do anything to prevent a collision, especially if the driver of the other car is not paying attention. Earlier this week a car rear-ended another vehicle in Gainesville.

From the little information provided, it appears that a young woman was driving and unaware that a vehicle was in front of her. She slammed into the back of the vehicle that was driving in front of her. The sudden impact sent her car off the road and into a tree.

It doesn’t appear that the driver of the vehicle that was struck was injured in the crash. However the young woman was immediately transported to the hospital for trauma injuries.

Police are still trying to understand what happened and why the woman was on the road. According to police records, the woman shouldn’t have been behind the wheel in the first place. Due to several unpaid traffic tickets, the woman’s license had been suspended. Additionally, police believe she may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Accidents such as this one can happen within seconds. And while the extent of the damage in each crash differs, those who were involved will likely have to deal with insurance claims, medical expenses, and injuries. Things can get complicated – it can help to speak with someone who knows how to approach the aftermath of a car crash.

Source: The Gainesville Sun, “Woman, 22, seriously injured in Waldo Road crash,” Karen Voyles, Oct. 3, 2011