What is a crossover accident?

Last week a Muncie, Indiana man was killed on I-69 when a truck's trailer traveled across the interstate median into oncoming traffic, striking an unsuspecting driver of a sedan. The out-of-control truck was not stopped by the steel tension guardrail in the median which was installed to prevent this exact type of accident.

Although somewhat rare, crossover accidents (when a vehicle crosses the median and enters the opposing lane in the wrong direction) are usually fatal, because they almost always result in head-on collisions. In recent years, many states, including Indiana, have installed steel railings between lanes to prevent such accidents in the most common areas of occurrence. Interstate 69, for example, received several miles of installations in the past few years. However, this incident calls into question the functionality of the rails, especially when a massive vehicle such as 18-wheeler can crash into the barriers at high speeds.

As always, the best ways to stay safe from fatal crossover accidents is to stay aware, keep your eyes on the road, drive the speed limit, and wear your safety belt.