When a driver is fatigued, they may be just as dangerous as a drunk driver. A fatigued driver can cause devastating motor vehicle accidents, as evidenced by a recent crash near Baltimore.

According to authorities, a three-car crash happened along Route 50 after a 17-year-old boy crossed the median. He struck another car head-on and caused another car to drive off the road. He told authorities that he fell asleep at the wheel.

A 51-year-old mother and her 19-year-old daughter were in the vehicle that the 17-year-old hit head-on. Their vehicle was thrown into a field and landed on its roof.

The 51-year-old woman was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after the crash. Her daughter was initially taken to Memorial Hospital at Easton before being transferred to the hospital where her mother was taken.

The 51-year-old woman remains in critical condition. Her daughter has since been discharged.

The third driver, a 36-year-old man, was taken to Memorial Hospital, but was released shortly after the accident. The 17-year-old driver was not injured in the crash.

Although the teenager said he fell asleep, police did take blood samples to determine if alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident.

A car accident can be life changing. People who are injured in car accidents may be forced to endure lengthy hospital stays, surgery and painful rehabilitation. They may be unable to work for months at a time.

Fortunately, there are legal options for car accident victims to pursue. After all, negligent drivers who cause harm to others should be held responsible.