RALEIGH, NC - A violent rear end collision caused multiple injuries to a family on Thursday, July 5, 2012 in Johnston County, North Carolina. The accident involved two vans, one that was occupied by a family and that was being driven by Van McRay Freeman, of Cove City, and another that was owned and operated by Bellsouth Telecommunications. The Bellsouth service van was proceeding east on Us-70 near Pine Level, NC when it approached the van directly ahead occupied by the Freeman family. According the North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigator J.R. Tew, driver Van Freeman was lawfully and safely slowing to prepare to make a left hand turn when his van was struck from behind by the Bellsouth service truck that was driven by Reed Aycock, a resident of Pikeville, NC.

After being struck from the rear, the Freemans' Chrysler van was pushed off the roadway and then overturned. The occupants of the van included Katonya Freeman and several young children. Victims of this unfortunate collision were taken by ambulance for care at Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield, NC and at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh, NC.

Although no traffic citations have yet been issued, it is clear that the commercial driver for Bellsouth Telecommunications failed to maintain a safe lookout, and failed to reduce his speed and thereby avoid colliding with another vehicle in violation of North Carolina General Statute 20-141. Further, the DMV-349 incident report indicates that both vans were in the right hand lane on US-70. If the Bellsouth driver had paid proper attention, he should have had time to either slow safely or merge to the left and pass the Chrysler van, thereby avoiding risk of injury to this family.

For information about the legal rights of accident victims in commercial vehicle accident cases, visit www.naglefirm.com and www.carolinatrucklawyer.com. To speak with an attorney about a personal injury case, including the legal rights of minor children who suffer personal injury in North Carolina car accidents, contact Carl Nagle at Nagle & Associates, P.A. Mr. Nagle is a former insurance adjuster and former insurance company lawyer. He now works only for accident victims and their families. Carl Nagle can be reached at (919) 433-0035 or toll free at (800) 411-1583.