Cherokee County, Texas — A Minnesota man died in a collision with a semi-truck on US Highway 69 in Cherokee County. The incident happened Monday afternoon.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Nicholas Schintgen was traveling south when a 2011 Freightliner Truck Tractor towing a trailer traveling the same way at an unsafe speed in wet road conditions lost control of their truck and collided with Schintgen’s vehicle. The impact caused Schintgen’s car to veer off the roadway and collide with a tree.
Nicholas Schintgen was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Thoughts on semi-trucks driving too fast on wet roads
It’s deeply troubling to learn that one person’s life was cut short because another driver failed to observe basic road rules and adjust their driving behavior accordingly. Whenever someone loses their life on the road due to someone else’s negligent actions, the family of the deceased has a right to demand justice.
Motorists must drive safely, especially in adverse weather conditions. Truckers, in particular, are responsible for adjusting their driving according to traffic and weather conditions. Reducing speed is crucial to maintaining vehicle control on wet roads. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucks should reduce their speed by 1/3 on wet roads to reduce risks associated with decreased traction. So why was this trucker going so fast?
In addition to truckers, trucking companies also have a commitment to keeping motorists safe. They have to make sure they hire safe drivers, provide adequate safety training, and ensure that their drivers do not have repeated violations on their driving records. If these companies neglect to fulfill their duties, they also should be held accountable for any resulting consequences.
Given this tragic event, all responsible parties should be held accountable for their actions. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased as they navigate the difficult road ahead, and we hope that justice will be served in this case.
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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.
