One of the last things anyone wants to see on the highway is a tangle of commercial vehicles. Just driving near a large truck or bus weaving in and out of lanes is enough to make your heart jump. So imagine the scare nearby drivers experienced when a tractor-trailer and Greyhound bus crashed outside Kettleman City in December.
The truck driver was pulling a box trailer containing food. He lost control of the truck and rear-ended the bus. The bus was carrying almost 50 people when the crash happened.
The impact pushed the bus up an embankment on the side of the road, and the truck flipped on its side.
Luckily, no one was killed. And amazingly, the initial report of injuries was fairly low. The truck driver, a 6-year-old girl, and one other person were hurt in the crash. Those three went to the hospital. The remaining bus passengers were stranded in the cool weather while they waited for alternate transportation.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) characterized the incident as “minor.” However, CHP also reported that the truck driver was not driving impaired but that he “may have fallen asleep behind the wheel.” The trucker could not recall what had happened.
It is frightening to think of the level of damage a sleepy truck driver could inflict. The vehicle alone is substantial in size and weight when compared to passenger vehicles. Loaded, tractor-trailers can bring on disaster. Driving a commercial motor vehicle is a huge responsibility that should cause truckers and their companies to act responsibly to protect other members of the travelling public.
If you or somebody you love was injured in a major accident, contact the attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP at 888.777.1776 for a free case consultation. Drivers who irresponsibly harm others should be held accountable for their actions.
