Harrison, AR — Three teens were injured in a single-vehicle car accident in Harrison, Arkansas, on Sunday, May 3, 2015. The accident took place on Route 7, around 3:00 in the afternoon.
Only two of the teens have been identified. Rebecca Bogardus and Johanna Ragan — both 18 years old — were both sitting in the back of a pickup truck being driven by 21-year-old Kory Grills along Route 7. An unidentified 17-year-old was also sitting inside the cab of the truck.
Reports say that Grills was attempting to pass a vehicle on the road while going around a curve. He came close to hitting an oncoming vehicle and swerved to the right to avoid the crash. He drove off the road and crashed into a tree.
Bogardus and Ragan were both thrown from the vehicle. Emergency workers called to the scene of the crash took Bogardus to North Arkansas Regional Medical Center. Ragan was taken to Mercy Hospital by medical helicopter. The 17-year-old inside the truck was taken to NARMC, along with Bogardus.
Grills suffered only minor injuries, and wasn’t taken to the hospital.
The accident is currently being investigated, and officers said that charges in the accident may be pending.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
Drivers owe their passengers a certain duty of care while traveling together. If a passenger is injured because of the driver’s actions, then that duty has been breached, and the driver can be held liable for his passengers’ injuries. The driver involved in this accident tried passing another vehicle while driving around a curve in the road. That shows a huge disregard for his passengers’ safety, and frankly, he needs to be held accountable for it. Now, he could be facing assault charges on three separate individuals. Not to mention the civil claims the victims could potentially bring against him.
— Grossman Law Offices
