Memphis, Indiana – At around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, four semi-trucks collided, causing one fatality and injuries. The incident transpired on the off-ramp from I-65 South onto Memphis Blue Lick Road.
Reports state that the three semi-trucks with trailers were parked on the right emergency lane of the off-ramp when a 2017 Volvo semi-truck entered the off-ramp and veered off the right side of the exit lane, making contact with the front of the first parked semi-truck. The Volvo then continued off the right side of the off-ramp, colliding with the rear of a second tractor and traveling underneath it. The second semi-truck then slammed into a third parked semi.
A passenger in the 2017 Volvo semi-truck was found entrapped and unresponsive within the sleeper portion of the truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Volvo was transported to the hospital with a severe head injury.
The driver of the second semi-truck also sustained injuries.
No further details have been provided.
Thoughts on Parked Semitruck Accidents
This accident is complicated and needs sorting out. However, one thing is for sure: trucks cannot park on the shoulders of off-ramps and then escape liability when a foreseeable accident occurs.
Fatal collisions with parked semis on roadways keep happening even though the trucking industry is very well aware of the danger parked semis create. When a party ignores safety protocols, and their actions lead to a preventable accident, they should be held accountable for any serious injuries or deaths their decisions caused.
In this terrible accident in Memphis, Indiana, the injured and killed deserve answers and justice. Why were the trucks parked? Often, fatigued drivers will rest on the shoulder of roadways, but this is an unsafe place to stop and rest. Truckers must plan routes and stop with the motoring public’s safety in mind. Were the trucks visible to the Volvo Semi-truck driver? From the reports, this accident took place in the early morning, possibly before sunrise. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) requires stopped vehicles to turn on their hazard warning system and to use warning devices, such as warning triangles and flares, no longer than 10 minutes but as soon as possible after stopping. Truck drivers who skip these safety rules put motorists at risk of grave injury.
The injured and killed deserve a thorough investigation and trained professionals on their side who will know how to identify wrongdoing and hold the responsible parties accountable.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
