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Two Dead and One Critically Injured after Driver High on Crack and Pot Rear-ends Disabled Vehicles

By Paul Napoli

January 2, 2010 Two people are dead and another critically injured following an early morning accident on New Year's Day in Philadelphia.

Joseph Price stopped in the left lane of northbound I-95 near the Bridge Street exit after his 2006 Dodge Caravan got a flat tire. About 2:40 a.m., Norman Wilkerson was driving his 1999 Ford Contour, his girlfriend Maria Cox in the front passenger seat, when he saw Price's minivan in the lane ahead and slowed but was unable to stop. He struck the minivan in a rear-end collision, but caused only minor damage.

As Price and Wilkerson waited for police to arrive, Jesse Maiden, 39, of Langhorne, drove his Jeep Cherokee with no headlights at 80 miles per hour into the rear end of Wilkerson's Contour, sandwiching the car into Price's minivan.

The impact of the crash instantly killed Wilkerson, 45, and Cox, 47, both of Philadelphia.

Price, 59, suffered a broken neck and remained at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for medical treatment.

Maiden and his passenger Kristen Paris, 21, who had a warrant for her arrest on a prostitution charge, suffered only minor injuries.

'I am so sorry… words cannot express… I reached for a cigarette and I don't know what to say,' Maiden said.

Pennsylvania State Police say Wilkerson was high on crack cocaine and marijuana at the time of the accident. They charged Wilkerson with driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle and related offenses.

Northbound I-95 remained closed from 3 a.m. until nearly 10 a.m. while police cleared the accident scene.

If you or loved one has been injured or a loved one killed in an auto accident, Napoli Bern Ripka, LLP has the experience and knowledge needed to successfully handle your auto accident case. Contact us immediately after an auto accident and we will discuss the situation with you and come up with a plan of action to help you get compensation for your injuries, property damage or a loved one's wrongful death. Call 1-888-529-4669 today to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Napoli

Full post as published by New York City Personal Injury Lawyer on January 03, 2010 (boomark / email).