Woman Speaks Out Against Driving With Sleep Apnea After Fatal Crash

Houston car and truck accident attorneys know that DWI accidents are a nationwide concern. But many accidents each year are also caused by people falling asleep behind the wheel. Whether people who fall asleep while driving are just tired or have a sleeping disorder—this can be equally dangerous, although less frequent, than driving while under the influence of alcohol.

A New Braunfels woman is speaking out against people who drive when they have a sleeping disorder such, and trying to raise awareness as to how dangerous it can be.

John and Wanda Linsdsay were driving in a construction zone in May of 2010, when they were hit from behind by a fast moving 18-wheler truck. The Lindsays had come to a stop, as the construction sign dictated, but the semi-truck behind them didn’t slow or stop, and slammed into them when it was traveling at 65 miles per hour.

The impact of the crash sent both of the Lindsays to the hospital. Wanda ultimately survived, but John never recovered and died a few days after being admitted to the hospital.

“On Sunday morning, on Mother’s Day, the doctor that had been taking care of him came in and told me there was no further brain activity and that there was no chance he could ever be the man we knew before and he needed our permission to disconnect the machines,” Wanda said in a statement.

Wanda then began wondering how such an accident could have happened—for a professional driver to be speeding through a clearly marked construction zone struck Wanda as odd. “For a truck, a 30-ton truck, to enter a construction zone travelling at 65 mph with their cruise control on, was he either insane? Or was he asleep? I don’t think he was insane,” Wanda mused.

Wanda said she still hasn’t recovered emotionally from the loss the accident caused, but in the process has been wondering why and how this tragedy could’ve happened. Wanda and her lawyer, Jim Cole, did some more investigating and discovered that the driver who slammed into their car, causing the death of her husband and best friend, had recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

“There is an epidemic among truck drivers of sleep apnea,” said Cole. And Wanda is now working to raise awareness of sleep apnea, and how dangerous driving with this disease can be.

“It just did not have to happen, should not have happened and if we can do one thing in his (John Lindsay) memory to make his death less senseless, then that’s what we’ll do,” said Wanda.

Houston truck accident attorneys agree with Wanda Lindsay. Part of what makes drunk driving accidents so tragic and senseless is that they are entirely preventable—there is no need for them to ever happen. The same is true with falling asleep behind the wheel—if you are too tired to drive, you should not, and if you have a severe sleeping disorder beyond your control, it is putting people at risk each time you get behind the wheel to drive.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle, truck accident or thinks that you have grounds for a wrongful death case, call Houston injury attorney Joe Stephens today at 713.224.0000 for a free consultation. Joe Stephens is a nationally recognized Houston injury lawyer with over 26 years of experience serving the Houston and South Texas communities. Call today or fill out an online contact form and a member of The Stephens Law Firm will be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation. Get in touch with Joe Stephens today to get the advice and help that you need.