Austin Masterson Dies in White County, AR, Single-Car Accident
White County, AR -- February 19, 2017, Austin Masterson sustained fatal injuries following an accident where his vehicle crashed off the highway.
19-year-old Masterson was in a 1999 GMC traveling northbound on Highway 157. The accident occurred north of Providence at around 1:00 a.m.
The Arkansas State Police reported that Masterson's vehicle somehow lost control and drifted into oncoming lanes. The car then ran off the opposite side of the road, and it eventually crashed into a tree.
Masterson suffered critical injuries in the collision, and EMS officials pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident. They say investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
The police report at this time offers no real insight on what occurred in this accident. It does mention that it was foggy at the time, and if it was thick enough, that could have caused serious limitations to visibility. That being said, "fog" is hardly an explanation of an accident.
Preliminary police reports are notorious for having very sparse information after an accident, and only rarely do they update with a complete investigation. This is one of the reasons car accident attorneys depend on 3rd party investigators as opposed to police reports.
By getting an independent accident professional to look at an accident, every possible factor can be taken into account. It doesn't matter if a particular factor is common--speeding, texting, intoxication, etc.--or uncommon--tire blowouts, brake failure, road hazards, etc. If there's even a chance it happened, then it warrants consideration.
By ensuring investigations are thorough, the factors which caused an accident are much more likely to be determined. By having all of the facts at hand, the families of single-vehicle accidents can ensure they aren't left in the dark after such a tragedy.
--Grossman Law Offices
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