When police officers are called to the scene of a multi-vehicle accident, their first duty is locating and assisting persons who were injured in the collision. Secondarily, they must locate and identify any individuals that died in the accident. Their tasks are complicated by the fact that they are also required to inspect and record important information about what may have caused the crash. A four-car accident in Columbus on March 23 may have placed maximum strain on the responders.According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, deputies were called to the scene at West Broad Street and Georgesville Road after receiving reports of a four-vehicle crash. A Chevrolet Captiva appeared to have been traveling west on West Broad Street when it struck the rear end of a Dodge Caravan. The Dodge was apparently stopped at a red light. After being struck by the Chevrolet, it was pushed into a Ford Mustang and then a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder.The driver of the Caravan was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the Captiva and the Mustang were taken to area hospitals in what was described as stable condition. Deputies are continuing to investigate potential causes of the accident. All drivers appear to have been wearing seatbelts, and police were not able to state concretely whether drugs or alcohol played any role in the accident.The one striking fact about this accident is the fact that the driver of the first vehicle to be struck by another vehicle was the only driver who died. A second key fact is the fact that the Caravan is a rather large vehicle, especially when compared to the smaller Captiva. This comparison suggests that the Captiva may have been travelling at an excessive speed and was unable to stop. If this preliminary conclusion holds up to further investigation, the driver of the Captive may bear the majority of liability for the single death and other injuries that resulted.Anyone who may have been injured or lost a loved one in a similar accident may wish to consult with an experienced accident attorney for an assessment of the evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages.