TULSA COUNTY, Okla.—Amanda Thomas, a 50-year-old Broken Arrow resident, died Feb. 8 in a collision on Interstate 44 in Tulsa.
According to local authorities, Thomas was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry on I-40, east of Yale Avenue, when she crashed into a tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes just before 1 a.m.
Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The truck driver, and a passenger riding in the cab’s sleeper compartment, were not injured.
Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the collision. No additional information was immediately available.
Commentary on the Fatal Head-on Truck Collision that Killed Amanda Thomas
The Thomas family is undoubtedly devastated and seeking answers in the wake of their tragic loss. I extend my deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time.
Little information has been made available to answer these questions. Unfortunately, most of these answers will be supplied through an interested trucking company whose only purpose is to avoid accountability in this tragic death. However, the Thomas family has been wronged and deserves to know the truth about this accident. We need to know if the trucker was safely operating his vehicle. By looking at the truck’s black box, we can determine the speed, breaking history, and other relevant information about the trucker’s actions leading up to the point of impact. We need to know if the trucker was tired or distracted at the time of the accident. By looking at the driver’s transportation logs, we can see the exact hours the driver had been operating his vehicle and whether those hours were within legal limits. A driver completing a 15-18-hour day on the road has no business behind the wheel. By looking at the trucker’s phone history and electronic data, we can determine if this trucker’s attention was on the road or personal matters.
Uncovering the truth surrounding this accident will take time and patience. However, an investigation is often at no cost and reveals much greater detail than what authorities supply. I am not alleging this accident is the sole fault of the trucking company. However, if the trucking company is telling the story, the Thomas family will likely not receive the whole story.
Disclaimer: On our blog, we report on recent catastrophic accidents to begin important conversations about consumer safety. If these resources are found to include any false or outdated information, we invite you to contact The Ammons Law Firm as soon as possible so we may correct the issue. This content should not be construed as legal counsel or advice.
