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“I have been prosecuting serious injury and wrongful death cases against trucking companies, auto makers and tire manufacturers for more than 30 years. Our firm maintains this blog to share information and insight on transportation safety issues that continue to arise on our nation’s highways and roads.”

Billy Ervin killed in truck rollover crash on I-70 Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana—Billy Ray Ervin, Jr., 70, died on August 21, 2022, when his semi-truck overturned around 8:45 a.m. on I-70 near mile marker 88.4.

According to initial reports, Ervin Jr. was driving a semi-truck on I-70 westbound when he drove off the road for unknown reasons and hit a concrete barrier. The semi-truck flipped over into a ditch to the right of the Interstate. Ervin Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene. No others were injured.

Although the investigation into the cause of this crash is still ongoing, investigators have noted that no skid marks indicated the driver was braking before the crash.

Thoughts on the fatal semi-truck accident in Indiana

It is so disheartening that, on a relatively mundane Sunday morning, a man lost his life while driving his semi-truck. This one-vehicle accident is even more difficult to comprehend because of the lack of evidence to suggest that Ervin Jr. attempted to prevent the accident once something had gone awry. This fact enhances the possibility that a mechanical defect, such as a sudden tire failure, or a lack of safety protocols, was the underlying cause of this accident.

Sometimes, truck drivers experience mechanical failures that lead to tragic accidents in a matter of seconds. For example, a tire blowout can cause a truck to lose control and roll. We have been seeing steer axle tires failing at an alarming rate across the nation, leading to catastrophic accidents like this.

If Ervin Jr. was employed by a commercial trucking company, then that company likely had a duty to ensure the semi-truck was subject to regular maintenance and replacement of worn tires. If the trucking company failed to repair the semi-truck’s tire or repaired the tire in a way that led to this fatal crash, the company may be responsible for this accident and be required to compensate the grieving family for the unexpected passing of their loved one.

Without further investigation, we cannot conclusively decide what caused Ervin Jr. to crash unexpectedly, but we must not assume that this accident is a simple case of distracted driving. A man lost his life. The grieving family deserves answers and the compensation they are entitled to under the law to help with the financial burden caused by the sudden loss of a loved one. If those impacted in this accident, or others like it, need a free comprehensive legal consultation, we stand ready to assist.

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