Laredo, TX – A tragic accident unfolded on Friday morning, resulting in the loss of two young lives. The Laredo Police Department has released the identities of the victims, brothers Abraham Perez Celedon, aged 21, and Cristian Perez Celedon, aged 18.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Mines Road and Pinto Valle shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday, involving an 18-wheeler exiting a nearby warehouse and a car heading northbound. The vehicle was unable to react in time, leading to a collision in which the car went under the tractor-trailer and came to a stop near a tree. Witness accounts and video footage reveal scenes of the accident showing the car’s remains scattered across the road.
The Crash Needs to be Investigated to Ensure all Wrongdoers are Held Responsible.
In 2021, 72 percent of deaths from large-truck accidents were occupants of vehicles other than the trucks ( National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2023). This is no surprise: size matters. And smaller vehicles driven by noncommercial motorists rarely have a chance to go unscathed when involved in a crash with a 5 to 10-ton trailer. Since the average road vehicle is no match for a large truck, it is vital that trucking companies employ safe drivers and have their trucks optimized for the safety of others. When these companies fail to employ safe drivers and safeguard their trucks, and an injury or death occurs, the trucking company may be held responsible for its negligence and failure to protect the public adequately.
While not specifically stated, it seems the trucker pulled out in front of the young boys, cutting off their lane of travel. This is unacceptable, and the trucker and the company should be held responsible for the death of these young men.
Additionally, the manufacturer of the trailer may have some fault in this crash. According to the reports, the car traveled under the trailer. This is known as an underride accident. These types of crashes happen when a truck does not have adequate safety bars in place, and a car can slide underneath the body of the trailer from either the trailer’s rear or side. These are hazardous accidents that often result in severe injury or death. Smaller vehicles are no match for trucks that stand high, so the point of impact in underride accidents happens at the windshield or the hood of the smaller vehicle. This prevents the vehicle occupants from receiving any protection during the crash.
This crash will need to be further investigated by trained professionals to help determine all parties at fault in this accident and hold all wrongdoers 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.
