Late last month, an accident between a pick-up truck and a bus resulted in 13 fatalities. According to a news report covering the tragic accident, the driver of the pick-up truck may have been texting in the moments leading up to the fatal accident.
Evidently, about 15 minutes prior to the accident, another motorist who was driving behind the pick-up truck noticed that the truck was swerving, crossing in and out of the oncoming lane of traffic. The motorist called the sheriff’s department in two neighboring counties, telling authorities that the driver should be stopped due to his dangerous driving. However, authorities did not respond in time.
The pick-up truck eventually veered into oncoming traffic, directly into the path of a church bus with 14 occupants inside. The driver of the bus was unable to avoid the truck, and the two vehicles collided head-on. Twelve of the passengers aboard the bus were pronounced dead at the scene, and another was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.
The motorist who had called the sheriffs’ departments witnessed the accident and pulled over immediately. He confronted the driver of the pick-up truck, who told him, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was texting.” Since the accident occurred on a highway and involved a bus, the National Transportation Safety Board will join in the investigation with local authorities. Neither the NTSB nor local authorities commented on whether they believe that distracted driving was the cause of the accident, but both agencies told reporters that they will investigate the accident thoroughly.
Distracted Driving Is a Leading Cause of Fatal Truck Accidents
Distracted driving is one of the major causes of serious and fatal truck accidents across the country. Truck drivers often spend upwards of eight hours a day on the road. To help pass the time, many truck drivers have a television in the cab of their truck, and all truck drivers have radios so that they can communicate with other truck drivers. It is tempting for a truck driver to divert his eyes from the road on long stretches of highway, but when a truck driver does this, the chance of causing an accident greatly increases.
Anyone injured in a Maryland truck accident should consult with a dedicated personal injury attorney to determine if they may be eligible for financial compensation for their injuries.
Have You Been a Victim of a Distracted Truck Driver?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a bus or truck accident, and you believe that the other driver may have been drowsy, distracted, or intoxicated, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. In many cases, evidence of intoxication or distraction is not apparent until an in-depth investigation is conducted. The skilled personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Maryland truck accident law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience assisting their clients with seeking the compensation they deserve. Call 410-654-3600 today to schedule your free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Intoxicated Truck Drivers Pose a Major Threat to Maryland Motorists, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published March 29, 2017.
The Dangers of Inattentive or Distracted Truck Drivers, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published March 8, 2017.