Salem, Oregon — A head-on collision between an SUV and a commercial dump truck claimed the life of the SUV’s driver on Thursday morning in south Salem at the intersection of Viewcrest Drive and River Road.
Reports indicate a loaded commercial dump truck entered the intersection and collided head-on with the SUV, propelling it backward and sending it down an embankment off River Road.
The SUV driver died at the scene, and a passenger was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The dump truck driver was unharmed.
No further details are currently available.
Thoughts on Dump Truck and Head-on Collision That Claimed One Life
Although we do not know all the details of this accident, one thing is clear: head-on crashes like this should never happen and should never become the norm. It is unacceptable for truckers to drive without regard for other motorists. According to the news release, the dump truck entered the intersection and hit the SUV head-on. Was the trucker distracted or plainly disregarding basic safety road rules of yielding and not speeding? When they drive negligently and cause serious injuries and death, they should be held accountable for their actions.
In addition, when accidents like these happen, the trucking company also has to answer for its employees and practices. Did the trucking company place a red flag driver with repeated traffic violations behind the wheel? Did the company provide the driver with proper training and information on driving safely and within the law? For example, no texting and driving, no speeding past the legal limits, and no breaking basic road rules. If the company does not have a culture of hiring safe drivers or providing drivers with proper training, it may also be partially accountable for placing a dangerous operator on the roadway.
It will also be important to determine if anything outside the driver’s control caused this crash. Approximately 10% of truck accidents are caused by a mechanical failure of some type. We have seen accidents involving bad tires, brakes, steering, and other malfunctions leave a semi-truck driver helpless. If that proves true here, the manufacturer or repair company may have significant fault for this crash.
Large truck fatal crashes are on the rise: in 2021, there were 5,700 fatal large truck crashes — a 49% increase from the last ten years (National Safety Council). These numbers are unacceptable. All wrongdoers that contribute to large truck fatal crashes need to be held accountable so the number of these deadly incidents does not continue to increase.
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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.
