Officials: Sun obstructed driver’s vision in three vehicle collision at Jake and Julian
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 8, 2013
One person was taken to the hospital with injuries after a Monday morning three-vehicle collision at South Jake Alexander Boulevard and Julian Road.
Sara Hurley, 48, of Salisbury, was traveling southeast on Jake Alexander Boulevard, toward the interstate, in her 1992 Mitusbishi pickup when she ran a red light and struck another vehicle.
The other vehicle, a 2012 Nissan, was driven by Abigail Fried, 26, of Concord. Fried had a green light and was turning left from Julian Road onto Jake Alexander Boulevard.
The impact of the collision between Hurley and Fried caused Fried’s vehicle to hit a vehicle to her right, a 2003 Volvo driven by John Hoover, 29, of Charlotte.
Hurley was not charged.
“The sun was very much a vision obstruction. I don’t think it was grossly negligent,” said Salisbury Master Police Officer M.P. Benjamin.
Hurley was taken to the hospital. Her chest hit the steering wheel.
Benjamin said Hurley was complaining of chest pain, head and neck injuries. She was not listed as a patient, hospital officials said Monday afternoon.
Neither Fried nor Hoover was injured. Benjamin said there were numerous witnesses who saw the collision occur. Witnesses also said there was a glare from the sun at that time.
Fried’s front and side airbags did deploy, the officer said.
Hurley had slowed significantly, witnesses told Benjamin.
Traffic was diverted for about 30 to 45 minutes. There was one lane going southbound on Jake Alexander Boulevard and one lane coming off Julian Road.
“We were trying to divert as much as we could onto South Main,” Benjamin said.