One Killed After Being Struck by a Semi-Truck on Highway 166 Near Maricopa, California

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A person was killed Monday afternoon after being struck by a semi-truck along Highway 166 south of Maricopa, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP officials said the crash occurred east of Soda Lake Road.

According to reports, a Honda Civic traveling westbound pulled onto the shoulder and came to a stop while partially obstructing the westbound lane. The vehicle had four occupants.

Authorities reported the driver exited the Honda to inspect the vehicle’s right-side tires after the car struck a curb and embankment. As the driver attempted to re-enter the vehicle, a westbound tractor-trailer struck him.

The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene.

Seeking Answers After a Semi-Truck Hits a Driver in an Emergency

What went wrong here? How did the truck driver not see a person in the middle of the afternoon?

Commercial drivers have a heightened duty of care due to the size and stopping distance of their vehicles. If the truck driver could have reasonably seen and avoided the person in the roadway, they may have some questions to answer.

A full investigation can determine what the truck driver saw, when they saw it, and whether they had enough time to react. Evidence such as skid marks, lighting conditions, dash-cam footage, and data from the truck’s onboard systems can help determine whether this collision was avoidable and where responsibility lies.

Any time someone dies on our roadways, the family left behind deserves answers. They deserve to know exactly what happened, what actions the truck operator took before and after the crash, and whether every reasonable effort was made to prevent the loss of their loved one.

May the surviving family find the answers they need.

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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in auto and truck accidents that result in serious injury or death.

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.