On Sunday, June 28, 2015, a driver named James Montano, was caught by multiple cameras on the Flagler Bridge in Palm Beach, Florida, jumping the drawbridge as it was going up. According to ABC News, Police say the jump was not the act of a daredevil, but more likely distracted driving. Montano is lucky that the distraction didn't cost him his life. Jumping an open drawbridge in most situations can lead to a car accident with severe injuries or even fatalities. The driver of this vehicle was lucky to escape with what were reported to be minor injuries only.
“Basically it was a distracted driver incident,” explained Officer Philip Salm with the Palm Beach Police Department, “the individual was coming back towards West Palm and didn't see the bridge arms coming down, it was suspected the guy was messing with his GPS."
“The implications of what could have happened, had he hit at a different time or he hit the ramp and went over the side, you're talking about a potentially fatal accident," Salm said.
After the incident, the Flagler Bridge was closed for about five hours, as crews worked to repair the traffic arm that Montano broke while jumping the bridge. Motano and the passenger in his vehicle were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the crash and Montano was cited for reckless driving.
Distracted driving leads many accidents and fatalities annually in the United States and globally. Distracted driving may consist of texting and driving, eating and driving, adjusting the car's GPS navigation system, or anything else that could take a driver's eyes off the road. According to the CDC, each day in the United States, more than nine people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, and in addition to this, 421,000 people were injured.
If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of distracted driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of auto accident and motorcycle accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.