Controversial Guardrail in the Spotlight Again After Marine Dies in a Maryland Car Accident
The family of a young Marine killed in a car accident is pushing Maryland officials to remove the type of guardrail they claim was a factor in his death. Washington-Baltimore NBC News Channel 4 reported in a March 23, 2018 article that the victim’s mother did some research after the incident, finding that at least seven other people were killed after crashing into X-LITE guardrail end pieces. There are five lawsuits against the manufacturer, claiming that the rail’s defective design is to blame because the metal impales the vehicle rather than deflecting it away from a hazard. Currently, 10 US states are in the process of replacing the guardrails due to safety concerns, but Maryland officials do not intend to make any changes. Therefore, more than 900 of the X-LITE guardrails will remain on the road, presenting a severe risk of auto accidents for drivers.
