Easton, Connecticut, resident Jennifer Martucci was a passenger in Anthony Whittingham’s Volkswagen Jetta when it veered off the road, hit a light pole, and repelled back onto Interstate 95 in the early morning hours of October 29th. Authorities say high speeds were to blame for the fatal motor vehicle crash.

Whittingham apparently tried to change from the right to the center lane, but instead veered off the side of the highway, hitting two trees and a light pole before coming to a stop in the center and left lanes of I-95. The car was totaled, identifiable only by its hubcaps. Whittingham tried to flee the scene on foot, but state troopers caught him and took him to Stamford Hospital, where backseat passenger Jahmar Whittingham was being treated. Martucci, a passenger in the front seat, was not so lucky. She died at the scene.

Excessive speed claims almost 100 people per year in fatal traffic accidents in Connecticut. Ninety-four out of 277 fatal traffic accidents in Connecticut were speed related in 2007.

Excessive Speed-Related Car Accidents Across the Nation

Nationally, only 12 percent of fatal speed-related crashes occur on interstate highways; it is far more common for speed-related fatalities to happen on non-interstate roads. This may be because speeding impairs a driver’s ability to judge turns and obstacles in the road.

In 2007, speeding was a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, accounting for a total of 13,040 fatalities. Speed-related crashes cost the country $40.4 billion in 2007, which calculates to $76,865 per minute and $1,281 per second.

If you or a loved one is involved in a car accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can assess the specifics of your case and help you receive compensation for your injuries.