Fatal Multi-Vehicle Semi Accident Driver Likely Not Wearing Glasses
A semi truck accident in Minnesota involving a semi truck carrying a load of thousands of honey bees killed two people and resulted in a four-car accident in late May. The swarm of thousands of bees hindered rescue efforts while firefighters in Lakeville, Minn., where the crash took place, tried to clear the wreckage.
New evidence shows the driver of the semi that caused the crash may not have been wearing corrective lenses and was also distracted and temporarily took his eyes off the road while reaching for a beverage, according to local news reports and Minnesota State Patrol officials. This caused the semi to rear-end the car in front of him, which hit the car in front of it, and then that car collided with the second semi carrying the bees. The accident happened on Interstate 35.
Other questions have been raised about the driver’s physical condition. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
“The patrol also is looking at [the driver's] physical condition…adding that the 36-year-old driver was ordered “out of service” by a trooper. [Officials] did not specify what it was about the driver’s condition that prompted the order; however, the trooper invoked a federal regulation that allows such an action when a driver is ill or fatigued. [The driver] was sidelined for 10 hours…”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, has strict regulations for commercial drivers. If an accident occurs and injures or kills someone as a result of a failure to follow these regulations, accident victims could have a legal claim against several parties. This could include:
- the truck driver
- the truck owner
- the owner of the truck’s cargo
- others
Semi truck accident victims could obtain money for damages suffered because of the accident. This could include money to cover medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity and others.
Sources:
http://wcco.com/local/bee.truck.accident.2.1743676.html
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/95957679.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Tags: car-semi accident, killed in a semi accident mn, rear-end collision
