PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Two adults and a teenager from Clearwater died Jan. 8 after the SUV they were traveling slammed into a semi on Interstate 75.
The semi was southbound when it moved into the inside lane in front of the SUV, according to local offices. The SUV hit the back of the semi for reasons that were not immediately clear, tearing off the front of the vehicle and killing all occupants.
Authorities have not identified the 57-year-old man, 53-year-old woman, and 16-year-old teenager who died in the accident. Two people in the semi, including the driver, were unharmed.
Commentary on the Fatal Clearwater Accident that Claimed the Lives of Three
I am deeply saddened to learn of this tragic accident that claimed the lives of three Clearwater residence. The effects of an accident this severe will be felt throughout the community. I offer my condolences to the family and hope for their solace during this difficult time.
When I read the reports on this accident, I can’t help but think of the events leading up to the moment of impact. While we have limited information at this time, we can surmise from the details available that the tractor-trailer either cut-off the driver of the SUV, leaving him no time to perform evasive maneuvering, the driver of the SUV was distracted and failed to maintain a safe distance after the truck had entered the lane of travel, or the SUV experienced a mechanical failure that prevented the driver from having control of the vehicle.
Answers will be obtained through a detailed investigation. Vehicles today are equipped with electronic control modules that provide details of the events leading up to the moment of impact. This includes information on the speed of the vehicles, any braking, evasive maneuvers, and mechanical failures that could have impacted the driver’s control of the car. Additionally, the semi-driver will likely be subject to lengthy depositions to uncover actions prior to impact.
It is likely the driver of the semi failed to see the SUV before changing lanes. In my experience representing clients across the nation in accidents like this one, the trucking company will initially deny liability and shift blame to the driver only to change tunes once an independent investigation has been conducted.
I sincerely hope the families left behind will be able to quickly resolve this matter and begin moving forward from this tragic loss.
Disclaimer: All information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the author’s opinion. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.
