Maryland Trucking Accident News: Drowsy Driving Suspected in Commercial Box Truck Crash Along I-695

Police believe a truck crash on Maryland’s Interstate I-695 in late July was the result of a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel. According to news reports, the accident was so severe that Maryland State Police had to shut down the entire inner loop during the morning commute. As a Baltimore trucking accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I know that drowsy driving is one of the major causes of commercial truck crashes.

A semi tractor-trailer rig is a formidable piece of machinery when compared to even the largest sport utility vehicle or light truck. Passenger cars have little chance of escaping serious damage when hit by an 18-wheeler that is out of control. Even a fully loaded box truck can cause serious property damage and bodily injury if it hits another, smaller vehicle.

According to news accounts, 23-year-old Michael Angel Ocasio was driving a white 2006 GMC box truck along the beltway, a short distance south of the Baltimore National Pike. Authorities said the driver apparently fell asleep and ran into the back of a flat bed trailer around 6am in the morning.

Emergency crews from Baltimore County Fire and Emergency Services working at the crash scene had to extract the truck driver from the wreckage. Ocasio was treated and then transported to Maryland Shock Trauma where doctors provided medical care for the driver’s severe leg injuries.

The driver of the flat bed trailer was taken to Northwest Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At the time of the article, Maryland State Police police were still investigating the accident.

Police believe I-695 accident this morning was caused by driver who fell asleep, ABC2news.com, July 20, 2010

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