Authorities in Nova Scotia have reported that a 37-year-old Sheet Harbor man lost his life in the early morning hours of Oct. 17 when the pickup truck he was driving was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer. The truck accident occurred on a 38 kilometre stretch of Highway 104 in Marshy Hope.
According to a RCMP report, paramedics from the Barney’s River & District Fire Department responded to the scene of the accident after being called out at approximately 5:30 a.m. They pronounced the driver of a wrecked pickup truck dead at the scene. A representative of the fire department said that the accident was the third fatal collision to occur on the dangerous stretch of highway west of Antigonish in 2014.
While work has been performed to improve safety on a stretch of road that has claimed 14 lives since 2009, area residents say that the efforts do not go far enough. The shoulders of Highway 104 have been widened in the area, and rumble strips have been installed. However, calls to twin the roadway have so far been rejected by the Department of Transportation due to the estimated $100 million cost of the project.
The loss of a loved one during their prime earning years can devastate a family emotionally and leave them financially vulnerable. While some automobile accidents are unavoidable, many others are caused by impatient, distracted or impaired drivers. Families who lose a loved one due to a road user’s careless actions could pursue civil remedies. A personal injury lawyer may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent driver or their estate or insurance company. This litigation may seek reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the family of an accident victim as well as compensation for the lost income of a breadwinner.
Source: CBC News Nova Scotia, “Benjamin Donald Carver named as victim of crash on Highway 104“, October 18, 2014