It’s clear to many that when you’re driving around large trucks, accidents can be devastating and take place suddenly. If you’re in stop-and-go traffic, this can be particularly difficult for truck drivers, since the vehicles are harder to stop and start as quickly as smaller vehicles.
Despite that fact, it’s the responsibility of the driver to make sure he or she is paying attention and slowing down enough to prevent an accident. Looking away from the road, failing to brake soon enough, or failing to stop all together can result in serious injuries, multiple vehicles being impacted, and potentially people being killed.
A recent crash in California points out the danger of truck driver being distracted; a report from the California Highway Patrol has stated that a truck rolled onto its side after colliding with several vehicles that had slowed or stopped in front of him. The big rig had been traveling Highway 50 near 65th street when the driver failed to slow and stop in time to avoid the vehicles ahead, according to one witness’s statement.
The collision resulted in at least one person being trapped inside his vehicle, however the news was unable to find out if anyone was badly hurt in the collision. The entrapment was reported across several news outlets along with the fact that the highway had to be closed off for over an hour. A second news source reported that the accident resulted in a seven-vehicle pileup. The highway had to be closed off across several lanes to make sure the scene could be investigated and cleaned up without affecting traffic badly.
Source: Fox 40, “Crash on Eastbound Highway 50 at 65th Street Blocks Lanes,” Ian McDonald, April 05, 2016
