SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va.—Larry and Peggy Proffitt lost their lives Jan. 12 following a four-vehicle collision at the intersection of Plank and Bragg roads.
According to local authorities, Larry Proffitt, 75, was driving a Ford Fusion Sedan through the intersection when his car was struck by an eastbound commercial bucket truck that entered the intersection from Plank Road. The impact caused both vehicles to collide with two Toyota trucks in the westbound turning lane on Plank Road. The commercial truck overturned in the median before coming to rest.
First responders transported Proffitt and his 76-year-old wife to local hospitals, where they succumbed to personal injuries.
One of the Toyota truck drivers was also transported to a hospital, where they were treated and released. The other Toyota truck driver and the two occupants of the commercial truck did not suffer injuries.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and no additional information has been released.
Thoughts from a Personal Injury Attorney on Fatal Commercial Accidents
This is a severe accident that will leave a grieving family searching for answers. The report doesn’t provide exact details leading to the accident, and these details will need to be determined before a firm conclusion can be drawn. Most importantly, who had the right-of-way? While not confirmed, the reports indicate that Mr. Proffitt had the right-of-way and the commercial driver failed to obey traffic signals. If this is the case, it is concerning the speed of the commercial vehicle, considering the force required to overturn a bucket truck. This would indicate the driver was unaware of his surroundings.
I would also want to look at the employer’s actions and the mental state of the commercial driver. Did drugs or alcohol inhibit the driver’s ability to control the vehicle? Had the driver been adequately trained? Alternatively, was the truck in good working order at the time of the accident? A detailed investigation will provide answers to these questions. In my experience, accidents involving run-away commercial trucks often have underlying causes that are not immediately apparent.
I offer my sincerest condolences to the Proffitt family and hope for their peace during this time of grief.
Disclaimer: All the information in this post is from third-party sources or constitutes my opinion. If you are not comfortable with this post or would like further information, please reach out to my firm to speak with me.
