YOU SAID:
Wow that person was in a car crash
INTO JAPANESE
その人は自動車事故にあったわあ
BACK INTO ENGLISH
That person had a car accident
INTO JAPANESE
あの人は交通事故にあった
BACK INTO ENGLISH
That person was in a car accident
INTO JAPANESE
あの人は自動車事故にあった
BACK INTO ENGLISH
That person had a car accident
INTO JAPANESE
あの人は交通事故にあった
BACK INTO ENGLISH
That person was in a car accident
INTO JAPANESE
あの人は自動車事故にあった
it is unlikely that this phrase will ever reach equilibrium