A 79-year-old man died of his injuries from a vehicle accident that occurred the afternoon of Wednesday, March 10 afternoon in North Lakeland, FL according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, the accident occured around 4 p.m. on Sutton Road, in Lakeland, FL near Sutton Hills Drive in Lakeland, FL. Joseph V. Feraci, of Lakeland, FL, was driving a 2000 Lincoln Town Car and he later turned in front of a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by James N. Snead, of Lakeland, FL Polk County Police reports stated.
Snead, 34, of Lakeland, FL was driving south on Sutton Road, in Lakeland, FL and Feraci was turning left onto Sutton Road, in Lakeland, FL from Sutton Hills Drive, in Lakeland, FL.
The impact trapped Feraci and his passenger, Madeleine A. Mondor, 79, of Lakeland, FL inside the Lincoln town car.
After being freed from the car, Feraci and Mondor were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in Lakeland, FL where Feraci died around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reports states.
Mondor is listed in guarded condition, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reports stated.
Snead received a laceration on his left arm and was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.
No one involved in the accident was wearing a seat belt
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, data shows that when lap/shoulder seat belts are used properly, they reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. For light-truck front-seat occupants, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.
In any event involving a crash, there are three basic ways to limit injuries and death to vehicle occupants:
1. Vehicles can be modified to provide better protection for drivers and passengers.
2. Emergency medical services (EMS) can be improved to reach victims more quickly and to provide more extensive medical care.
3. People can buckle the seat belts already in their vehicles.
Increased usage of seat belts is the simplest and less expensive way to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads and highways.
In my practice as a personal injury attorney, practicing in Polk County, FL, I have seen a number of tragic deaths. Many times, the victim was not wearing a seatbelt. Failure to wear a seatbelt is not only dangerous, it is considered an act of negligence. The victim's recovery is reduced by his/her percentage of negligence. Bottom line....it is NEVER a good idea to ride in a vehicle without a seatbelt! The consequences could be deadly.
