OGDEN, Utah—One person was killed on I-15 near 24th Street in Ogden after stopping to attend to a flat tire. Another individual involved in the crash sustained life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 a.m. on October 4, 2022.
Police reports suggest that two employees in a construction truck hauling heavy equipment on a trailer pulled over to the left side of I-15 northbound to assess a flat tire. When the two men exited the truck, another construction truck from the same company pulled over to inform the men that they had to move the vehicle off the roadway. The two men began walking back to their truck when a woman driving a pickup truck drifted out of her lane and struck both construction vehicles, trailers, and the men walking back to the truck.
One of the men was thrown across the highway due to the crash's impact. He was transported to a nearby hospital by air but died shortly after that. The second victim suffered severe internal injuries and underwent emergency surgery.
The female pickup truck driver did not stop immediately after crashing into the men. Instead, the truck came to rest down the interstate. The woman was then taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The accident necessitated closures of the I-15 in both directions for several hours, creating a large traffic jam.
An active investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. No further information has been released.
Other less apparent factors may have contributed to the death and injury of the men
The cause of the man's death and the other construction worker's injury can be attributed to the actions of the female pickup truck driver. However, other less obvious factors may have contributed to the death and injury of the men. For instance, had the tire not run flat, the men would not have pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway to inspect the tire. Therefore, if the tire popping is attributed to someone else’s negligence, such as the construction company's poor maintenance, a faulty tire repair, or a manufacturing defect, other parties may need to be held accountable for this tragic outcome.
Companies may be held responsible for failing to maintain a safe working environment, which often includes maintaining company vehicles. Suppose the construction company had not regularly maintained the trucks and had replaced the tires on this truck as needed. In that case, the injured victim and the decedent's surviving family may have a claim against the construction company. On the other hand, if the company had serviced the truck's tires, but the repair shop overseeing the service failed to properly inspect or repair the tire that popped, the repair shop may share in the liability for this accident. Alternatively, if the tire was defective from the point of manufacturing, then a manufacturer may be partially responsible for the injuries caused by this accident. Companies, repair shops, and manufacturers often carry insurance that can help compensate victims and their families if any wrongdoing is ascribed to a covered entity.
A thorough investigation of the incident will be required, especially since tire defects can be challenging to diagnose. Skilled attorneys can help oversee independent investigations into the practices and procedures followed by companies, repair shops, and manufacturers to determine whether the victims and their families can recover money damages. After all, one individual suffers greatly while another's family is left to pick up the pieces of their lives after a loved one's passing. The last thing any family should be worried about is finances. If there are parties responsible whose insurance is legally obligated to lessen the burden on others, then justice would suggest that the insurance companies should assist in any way they can.
