If you’re in a highway crash, stay in your car if you can

Aug. 07--South Florida's busy highways can be fatal for anyone on foot. That's why it's important to stay inside your car after an accident, if at all possible.

Carlo "C.J." Ullysse Jr., a popular assistant football coach at Cypress Bay High, was killed Sunday morning in a hit-and-run accident on Interstate 95.

Ullysse, 27, was heading north on I-95 around 6 a.m. when he collided with another car south of Commercial Boulevard, police say. At some point, he got out of his car. At 6:19 a.m. he was hit by a second car that kept on going.

Here's a few safety tips from the experts on what to do if you're involved in an accident. Make sure no one in the car is hurt. Then check on the passengers in the other vehicle and anyone else nearby to make sure they're OK.

Next do these five things:

Stay in the car

If you're on a highway, stay inside the car and wait for the police or paramedics. It's highly dangerous to stand along a freeway or any other road with lots of traffic.

Stay at the scene

Leaving can result in legal consequences, including fines and jail time.

Call 911 right away

Emergency dispatchers will send officers and paramedics to the scene of the accident. Once the police arrive, wait for them to complete an accident report.

Stay calm

Don't get into an argument with the other driver. Remain calm and exchange contact and insurance information. If possible, get the name and phone numbers of witnesses.

Contact your insurance provider

Call your insurance provider to report the claim. Your agent will ask you for any paperwork on the accident. They also will give you information on getting your car fixed.

Source: Nationwide.com

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554. Find her on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan.

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