Two Seriously Injured in Accident with Van and Parked Semi-Truck on Interstate 5 in Thurston County, Washington

THURSTON COUNTY, Washington — Two people were seriously injured after a transporter van collided with a parked semi-truck on southbound Interstate 5 in Thurston County, Wednesday morning.

Authorities reported that the van was exiting the highway when it left the roadway and struck the rear of a semi-truck parked on the right shoulder.

The driver of the van, a 55-year-old man from Oakville, was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries. A passenger, identified as an 81-year-old woman from Chehalis, was also transported for treatment.

No further information is currently available.

Public roadways near exits are not where trucks should be parked or stopped

Drivers don’t usually expect to see a semi-truck parked on the shoulder right where they’re exiting a highway. When a vehicle that large is stopped in active traffic, it can pose a serious hazard, especially in areas where people are slowing down, changing lanes, or preparing to exit the highway.

Often, the first thought in these crashes is that the driver who left the roadway and struck the parked truck is at fault. But crashes like this deserve a closer, more careful look. One important question is: Why was the semi-truck stopped on the shoulder in that particular spot so close to the exit?

Commercial truck drivers are responsible not only for how they drive, but also for where and how they stop. Parking or stopping a truck in a way that puts other drivers at risk is a serious safety concern. When a commercial vehicle is positioned in a way that increases the chance of a collision, that decision matters, and it should be further investigated beyond the initial police report.

If that hazardous positioning contributed to a crash that caused serious injuries, the truck driver and trucking company should be held accountable for their share of the responsibility.

There are times when a driver may need to pull over. But when that happens, both the driver and the trucking company are expected to follow strict safety rules, making sure the truck is visible, properly positioned, and not creating an unnecessary danger for others on the road.

When a crash leads to people suffering serious injuries, it’s not enough to accept the simplest explanation. A thorough investigation should examine why the truck was there, whether the appropriate safety measures were taken, and whether the situation could have been avoided.

The two people hurt in this crash are now living with the outcome. They deserve clear, honest answers about what caused this collision, whether it could have been prevented, and to have every responsible party held to account for their role.

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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.