Oklahoma County, Oklahoma – An 82-year-old man lost his life following a collision with a semi-trailer on the Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma County Monday night, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The incident unfolded shortly before 8 p.m. on Monday when a 2019 Dodge Ram and a Peterbilt semi-trailer were involved in a collision in the westbound lanes of the Turner Turnpike near the Kickapoo Turnpike interchange.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials, the pickup truck spun out, crashing into the cable barriers before coming to a halt on the road. Subsequently, the semi-trailer collided with the pickup.
The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. He has been identified as James A. Hall, 82, of Choctaw.
The driver of the semi-trailer was unharmed. Top of Form
Investigation Needed on Why Truck Crashed into Stopped Vehicle
There are still unanswered questions about this tragic accident. For one, what caused Mr. Hall to lose control of his vehicle and crash into the cable barriers? Secondly, why did the truck driver slam into Mr. Hall’s vehicle? Was the truck driver speeding or distracted, preventing him from collision avoidance?
These questions will need to be answered to determine the surviving family’s rights under the law. It is clear from the facts that the truck driver failed to avoid a collision. All motorists have a duty to avoid hitting other motorists on the roadway. When a driver, especially a commercial truck driver, fails to take adequate precautions to avoid an accident, the driver can be held accountable for the pain and suffering the negligent actions caused.
In this case, the truck driver and the insurance provider for the trucking company will likely try to avoid responsibility for the accident by pointing to the first collision as the cause of death. They may also try to say that the first collision created an unavoidable emergency and that the truck driver was the wholly innocent victim in this incident.
This is not fair. A man lost his life, and his family will be left mourning his untimely passing. The actions of the trucker must be accounted for to determine what occurred prior to the crash. Was the driver distracted, fatigued, or impaired, preventing the trucker from taking evasive action to avoid the collision?
Likewise, an accident reconstruction will provide details on the cause of death. Medical engineers can determine whether Mr. Hall would have survived the original crash based on the impact of the vehicle.
An investigation into the events leading up to the second collision will need to be investigated in detail to ensure the surviving family receives the full picture and all wrongdoing is accounted for.
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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.
