One man died and six other people were hurt in a recent semi-truck accident. According to police, the 23-year-old driver of an 18-wheeler was headed west on Route 30 in Galloway Township, Pennsylvania when he failed to stop at a red light and struck three other vehicles. The force of the impact reportedly caused a Chevrolet to overturn and become pinned beneath the big rig. Sadly, the 69-year-old driver of the Chevy died at the accident scene. Two of his passengers were transported to a local area hospital for treatment. In addition, the drivers of two other autos hit by the 18-wheeler, as well as one of their passengers, were also hospitalized following the fatal crash.
According to an accident witness, the force of the impact caused diesel fuel to begin leaking from the semi-truck. Both the driver of the tractor-trailer and his female passenger were treated for undisclosed injuries. The intersection was closed for about five hours while police investigated the cause of the crash. Although the deadly wreck is still under review by police, the accident witness stated the 18-wheeler caused the collision when he ran the red light.
Although this particular semi-truck accident occurred in another state, all motorists should be mindful of the dangers associated with sharing any roadway with a tractor-trailer. Every year, negligent truckers like this one harm or kill countless drivers and passengers who are utilizing the various highways, interstates, and other roadways located across New Mexico. In fact, about 1,400 big rig wrecks take place on roads in our state each year. 18-wheeler collisions may be caused by a number of factors that often include driver distraction, fatigue, dangerous lane changes, impairment, speeding, aggressive driving, tailgating, and more. Additionally, many truckers fail to adequately inspect their vehicles for preventable safety hazards such as worn tires or malfunctioning brake lights.
Due to the sheer weight and size of tractor-trailers, accidents are generally serious or fatal. In one out of every 15 New Mexico big rig wrecks, the victim sustains a disabling injury. Tragically, someone is killed in one out of every 35 such accidents. If you were seriously hurt by a negligent trucker in New Mexico, you are advised to discuss your rights with a skilled lawyer.
Contact the Fine Law Firm if you were injured or a loved one was killed in a wreck that was caused by a negligent tractor-trailer driver anywhere in New Mexico. Our hardworking Albuquerque truck accident attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience helping 18-wheeler crash victims across the State of New Mexico recover the damages they deserve based upon the severity of their harm. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with a caring advocate, do not hesitate to give the Fine Law Firm a call at (505) 889-3463 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Proposed Law Would Require Trucking Companies in New Mexico and Throughout the U.S. to Carry More Liability Insurance, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 21, 2013
Man Dies in Freak Bernalillo Semi-Truck Accident, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 20, 2013
Additional Resources:
Tractor-Trailer Ran Light in Fatal Crash: Police, by Lauren DiSanto and David Chang, nbcphiladelphia.com