Tragedy Strikes Twice for Illinois Family

 Posted on April 07, 2014 in Personal Injury

The sudden loss of a loved one is always a difficult event to endure. As an article reported, one Illinois family went through such a trying time when they lost one of their twin daughters in a hit and run accident nearly 18 years ago. Now, they are reliving the nightmare after their other twin daughter was recently killed in another car accident not far from the original crash site.

The Crash

Sarah Sanaghan was killed last week when she was attempting to navigate through an intersection and a tanker trailer collided with her car on the passenger side. She was pronounced dead at the hospital as the result of blunt force head trauma. The accident occurred close to where her twin sister Cari, at 11 years old, died in a crash in 1996.

The 1996 accident happened when the twin girls were at a sleepover with two other friends. The girls snuck out of the house to meet up with a boyfriend of one of their friends, and were struck by a passing vehicle as they were walking back to the house. Sarah was knocked to the ground. The other three girls were killed as a result of the accident.

Legal Ramifications of the 1996 Accident

The 1996 accident in which her sister was one of three youths killed involved a hit and run. The incident inspired legislation to strengthen hit and run laws. The driver in that case was convicted of four counts of aggravated leaving the scene of an accident and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of incarceration. Sarah, only 13-years-old at the time, spoke to the media about the accident, its impact, and her opinion that the driver deserved a harsher sentence that what was imposed.

The attorney responsible for getting stricter hit and run laws passed worked closely with the families of the victims of that accident. In doing so, they supported her in sponsoring a bill that increased penalties for such accidents and imposed a requirement on drivers to report hit and run accidents within one hour if they do occur.

Personal Injury Attorneys

Although the most recent crash mentioned does not seem to involve legal liability, any hit and run accident may result in not only civil action, but in criminal action being taken against the driver. It is important to consult with an experienced accident and injury attorney to be informed of your rights.