Famous Princeton mathematician John Nash and his wife Alicia were killed in a car accident on the New Jersey turnpike last week. Nash is widely known as the brilliant math genius portrayed by Russell Crowe in the movie A Beautiful Mind. In the movie, the story follows the academic career of Nash, who suffered from schizophrenia.
Nash and his wife were allegedly extremely close, and some works written on his life claim Alicia is responsible for helping him survive his mental illness.
The 86-year-old was a Nobel Prize winner and pioneer of game theory, a famous idea that would forever change the face of economics. Some academics in the field of economics have credited Nash’s work as being on par with the famous 18th century economist Adam Smith, who wrote Wealth of Nations.
Nash and his wife were riding in the backseat of a taxicab when the vehicle lost control. Witnesses to the accident claim the taxicab lost control while attempting to pass another vehicle, slamming into the guardrail and ejecting Nash and his wife from the vehicle.
The New Jersey Turnpike has been the location of other auto accidents involving celebrities. Last summer, comedian Tracey Morgan was injured in a truck accident on the same turnpike. Fellow comedian James McNair was in the same vehicle as Morgan, and he passed away from injuries. According to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, there were 6,286 auto accidents on the turnpike in 2013. In total, motorists travel about 5.5 billion miles a year on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Are Cab Companies Liable For Passengers Injured Or Killed In Car Accidents?
Authorities are still investigating the accident and no charges have been filed against the taxi driver, who was rushed to a hospital. However, depending on what information is uncovered in the investigation, the cab company and driver could possibly face additional civil damages.
Transportation companies have a duty to care for passengers. When passengers are hurt or killed, accident survivors and family members might have legal options for pursuing damages.
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