MAYES COUNTY, Okla. — Kalvin Grumbein, a 19-year-old man from Foyil, Okla., tragically died Jan. 28 in a collision with a semi-truck on Interstate 44.
Grumbein was driving a 2009 Chevy Cobalt westbound on I-44 when he lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. According to local authorities, the Cobalt traveled off the right side of the roadway and hit a guardrail.
Grumbein managed to re-enter the roadway but was struck by a westbound 2015 Kenworth tractor-trailer. The collision drove both vehicles off the right side of the highway. The semi-truck rolled a quarter and landed on its side.
Grumbein was reportedly pinned in his vehicle for nearly 40 minutes. Firefighters used the jaws of life to extract his body.
The 32-year-old driver of the semi-truck, and his 21-year-old passenger, refused medical treatment at the crash scene. Both are residents of Chicago.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and no additional information has been released.
Commentary On The Fatal Semi-Truck Accident In Oklahoma
Two issues catch my attention when reading about this tragic accident. First, I am interested in what caused the young man to lose control of the vehicle. A sudden loss of control is generally caused by distracted, impaired, or fatigued driving. However, having practiced product liability law for over thirty years, I have represented countless clients who lost control of their vehicles because of mechanical failures outside their control. Unfortunately, victims often do not survive these accidents, leaving post-accident investigations as the primary source for answers. With a timely investigation, many of the acts leading to this crash can be uncovered, and the true story revealed.
I am also interested in the acts of the semi-truck driver. It is possible the driver was unable to avoid collision regardless of any evasive action taken. However, it is also possible the truck driver was distracted and failed to avert a preventable collision. If this is the case, the truck driver likely exasperated the accident’s severity, and the law would consider the driver’s actions accordingly.
I am deeply saddened for Mr. Grumbein’s family as they mourn his passing and hope for their solace during this difficult time.
Disclaimer: All the information in this post is from third-party sources or constitutes my opinion. These posts are not legal advice. If you are not comfortable with this post or would like further information, please reach out to my firm to speak with me.
