A tragic crash on New Mexico State Road 68 in Española has left two people dead and another person hurt. According to Eric Garcia, Director of Española Public Safety, a southbound passenger vehicle carrying two people was traveling at a high rate of speed when a large flatbed truck that was carrying a backhoe pulled out into one of the southbound lanes. The small passenger car reportedly bounced off of van before striking the truck.
Tragically, the force of the morning New Mexico truck accident apparently caused the backhoe to come off of the trailer and strike the car. The roof of the car was purportedly ripped off and both the 19-year-old driver and her 21-year-old passenger were killed instantly. In addition, emergency responders transported the driver of the truck to Presbyterian Española Hospital for treatment. The driver of the van was apparently uninjured.
The exact cause of the fatal crash is currently under investigation by the Española Police Department. Garcia stated investigators believe excessive speed likely played a role in the traffic wreck. In addition, he said the flatbed truck was carrying a great deal of weight.
A recent Truck Safety Coalition report claims New Mexico ranks seventh in the nation for traffic deaths involving a big truck. Additionally, more than 2,000 traffic collisions that occur in New Mexico each year involve a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck. Big rig crashes may be caused by a variety of factors including driver impairment, excessive load weights, fatigue, inadequate driver training, and poor vehicle maintenance.
Commercial truck accidents are generally different than normal automobile crashes because they often involve unique pieces of evidence that do not exist in other collisions. The victim of a truck accident may be eligible to recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and benefits, medical costs, and any temporary or permanent disability that resulted from the incident. Certain relatives of someone who was killed in a crash with a commercial truck may also be entitled to receive funeral expenses and other damages. If you were injured by a negligent commercial truck driver, you should contact a quality lawyer as soon as you are able.
Contact the Fine Law Firm if you were hurt or a close relative died in a New Mexico Truck Accident. Our caring Albuquerque truck accident attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience assisting individuals who were hurt in an unexpected accident with a commercial truck. At the Fine Law Firm, our knowledgeable lawyers are available to help you collect the financial compensation you deserve following an unexpected traffic wreck. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with a capable advocate, please contact the hardworking attorneys at the Fine Law Firm through our website or give us a call at (505) 889-3463.
More Blog Posts:
New Federal Safety Rule Limits the Number of Hours Truckers May Drive in New Mexico and Nationwide, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 16, 2013
Additional Resources:
2 decapitated in crash near Española, by Magdalena Sharpe, krqe.com
Police ID couple killed in crash near Española, The Santa Fe New Mexican