Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Driver Pleads in Fatal I-195 Rollover

January 14, 2010 - New Bedford - The driver charged in a fatal 2009 rollover accident on Interstate 195 in Dartmouth, Mass. has entered a plea of not guilty.

The Cape Cod Times reports that Dakota Lauren Jones, 21, of Pocasset, Mass. appeared Wednesday in a New Bedford court, where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of motor vehicle homicide. Reports show that she may have taken prescription medications on the day of the accident. 

The fatal four-car highway crash occurred on Oct. 14, when the car driven by Dakota Lauren Jones crossed a median and crashed into a vehicle driven by fatal victim Susan M. Lepage, 46, of New Bedford. 

Susan Lepage's car then crashed into a third vehicle, which subsequently flipped over and collided with a fourth that was parked on the shoulder of the highway.

Crash victim, Daniel Allende, 29, of Fairhaven, Mass. suffered personal injuries in the highway rollover. Victim Susan Lepage died in the collision. 

Dakota Lauren Jones, who also was charged with speeding, was released on personal recognizance and will appear again in court on March 17. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2008 Massachusetts Crash Statistics, there were 363 fatalities as a result of car accidents in Massachusetts. 

Our heart goes out to the family and friends of Susan M. Lepage for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. We offer our deepest condolences to Susan Lepage's family. We wish the other victim, Daniel Allende, the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep this victim and Lepage's family in your prayers. 

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer 

It would be in the Lepage family's best interest to contact an experienced Dartmouth, Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, who can analyze all elements of this tragic accident and ensure they get the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve. In any fatal car accident case involving a negligent driver, families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for medical/funeral expenses and other damages. 

A qualified car accident lawyer should also look into whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway. If such a condition caused or contributed to this fatal car accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that particular roadway could be held liable. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations which may prevent you from filing a claim against a governmental agency if too much time has passed.