Friends and family are trying to cope with the sudden death of a young man late last week. The young man had been an arts student at Carnegie Mellon University and was well-liked and well-thought of among friends and colleagues.
He had been traveling with a group of friends to Florida. The six students had been driving through Florida on Thursday evening when the driver of the vehicle swerved suddenly, causing the vehicle to flip over and roll several times. People who witnessed the car accident stated that the driver swerved and overcorrected the vehicle.
Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash to determine the actual cause. According to a spokesperson from the FHP, police are investigating the possibility of the driver falling asleep at the wheel. FHP does not believe that alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The young man was killed in the accident when he was ejected from the vehicle. Four other students sustained injuries and were treated at a nearby hospital; one student sustained critical injuries after being pinned under the vehicle. Another student was not injured.
This vehicle had been one of two that was bringing CMU students to Florida. The university sent staff members to help the students deal with the fatal accident.
The aftermath of a fatal car crash is devastating for everyone involved. Those who were traveling with the young man lost a friend; his parents lost a son. Not only is the emotional piece of an accident difficult to deal with, but family members also are faced with medical and funeral expenses.
There are many questions that his family has regarding the cause of the crash. But until FHP completes its investigation, those questions will likely remain unanswered.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online, “CMU student killed in Florida crash,” Moriah Balingit, 26 March 2011
