A 57-year-old man was recently killed in a freak semi-truck accident on Highway 550 in Bernalillo. According to a representative for the New Mexico State Police, a big rig carrying a manufactured home struck a temporary power line as the large vehicle headed west near the Interstate 25 interchange. The power line purportedly became entangled in the roof of the mobile home and caused a wooden utility pole to snap and topple onto the cab of an eastbound pick-up truck. Sadly, the 57-year-old driver of the pick-up truck died at the accident scene.
The highway was closed in both directions for about six hours while the New Mexico State Police investigated the fatal incident. Police stated the wreck occurred in a road construction zone and it was not clear whether the temporary power line was properly installed. Additionally, police are reportedly investigating whether the driver of the semi obtained the correct permits prior to transporting the manufactured home.
All drivers should be aware of the dangers associated with sharing the roadway with semi-trucks. Each year, truckers negligently hurt or kill many motorists travelling on the various interstates, highways, and other roadways located throughout the State of New Mexico. In fact, about 1,400 large truck crashes occur on roads in our state annually. 18-wheeler crashes may be caused by a number of reasons including driver distraction, fatigue, impairment, dangerous lane changes, speeding, aggressive driving, tailgating, and more. In addition, many truck drivers fail to properly inspect their vehicles for preventable safety hazards such as worn tires or brakes and malfunctioning lights.
Because of the sheer size and weight of semi-trucks, tractor-trailer crashes are usually serious or deadly. The victim of a traffic wreck that was caused by a big rig driver sustains a disabling injury in one out of every 15 New Mexico semi-truck wrecks. Tragically, a person is killed in one out of every 35 such accidents. If you were seriously injured by a negligent trucker in New Mexico, you should discuss your rights with a quality attorney.
Contact the Fine Law Firm if you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a New Mexico tractor-trailer collision. Our caring Bernalillo truck accident lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience helping semi-truck crash victims across the State of New Mexico recover the damages they deserve based upon the severity of their injuries. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with a knowledgeable advocate, please give the Fine Law Firm a call at (505) 889-3463 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Researchers Claim Combination of Technologies in Truck Cabs May Increase Semi Safety in New Mexico and Nationwide, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 3, 2013
Sleep Apnea Legislation Could Affect Roadway Safety in New Mexico and Nationwide, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 2, 2013
Additional Resources:
Snapped power pole kills passing driver, by Bill Diven, krqe.com
Semi caught in cable lines pulls down power pole, killing driver on U.S. 550, by Elizabeth Reed, kob.com