GRAHAM COUNTY, Ariz. — Semi-truck driver Saul Gonzalez was killed July 27 in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 191 North in the Black Hills region.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety told a local news outlet that Gonzalez was driving a hay-hauling truck when the vehicle rolled over near milepost 141 at about 3 p.m. Witnesses said a tire on the truck appeared to have failed and caused the accident.
No additional information about the crash was released by authorities.
Gonzalez has no life insurance and his family is in need of funds to cover funeral expenses, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his relatives on the day he died.
COMMENTARY ON TIRE DEFECT ACCIDENTS BY ROB AMMONS
We are seeing more tire failures on big rigs than on passenger vehicles lately.
Something is wrong, causing these tires to fail in a similar way with similar results. While this report does not indicate exactly what happened, these types of accidents are often caused by tread separation. Tread separations occurs when tread from the tire is separated from the body, or casing, of the tire’s base. We tend to see this more often on commercial vehicles utilizing retreaded tires than on standard passenger vehicles. Several states have taken action to curb this issue by outlawing retreaded tires and my hope is more states will follow suit.
With the amount of information currently available, it is difficult to make any determinations on whether this accident was caused by tread separations. It is important to conduct a detailed analysis of the remaining tire to ensure manufacturer flaw or defect was not a contributing factor in this accident.
MEET ROB AMMONS
For over three decades Rob Ammons has concentrated his practice on tire and automotive defect claims, representing clients against tire manufacturers, automakers, tire retailers, and tire service centers. Mr. Ammons’ success against Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Cooper Tire, Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone/Firestone, Continental/General Tire, Kumho Tire, and Yokohama has led to the recall of millions of tires across the country. If you or your loved one have been injured from a defective tire, reach out to Rob Ammons now for a no-cost consultation.
Disclaimer: At Ammons Law, we are constantly seeking to improve the quality and safety of our roads and highways. We post these articles to help improve safety within our community. All of the information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the opinion of the author. Photos are from cases handled by The Ammons Law Firm and do not depict accidents reported on unless otherwise noted. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.
