A chain-reaction crash in Southern Illinois left one trucker dead and another in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, The Southern reported April 21. The accident happened on Interstate 57 in Franklin County, between Benton and Sesser. According to police, trucker Lawrence Rich failed to slow down in time for stopped traffic in front of him. He crashed into another tractor-trailer driven by Donald Troyer, who was stopped at the time. The collision pushed Troyer’s truck into yet another semi driven by Dale Stumbo, whose truck hit a pickup driven by David Payne.
Fortunately, Payne — the driver of the smallest vehicle in this southern Illinois trucking accident — was not hurt in the crash. Stumbo and Troyer were also not seriously hurt, although Stumbo was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. However, Rich was killed at the scene when the load of metal pipes he was carrying crashed through his trailer and into the cab of his truck. Troyer’s load of computer equipment also caught fire, requiring two hours of efforts from firefighters to extinguish. To deal with the crash safely, law enforcement closed the interstate in both directions for nearly four hours.
As a St. Louis semi truck accident attorney, I would be interested in any information on how the loads involved in this accident were secured. If you have never been involved with the trucking industry, you may not realize this, but there are state and federal laws regulating how trucks’ loads should be secured. Trucking companies and truck drivers must balance the weight of their loads, never load more weight than permitted and secure the goods well enough to avoid a spill during routine maneuvers or a minor accident. When loads spill, they can injure or kill the truck drivers themselves or any of the drivers who happen to be nearby. Securing loads may also be able to prevent spills that cause fires or other hazards to the community, as happened here.
When the people responsible for properly securing loads — generally a trucking company and the trucker who will haul the load — fail in that duty and an accident results, victims have the right to hold them legally responsible. A Missouri tractor-trailer accident lawsuit can get victims compensation for their injuries, the loss of a loved one and their pain and suffering. It can also help victims make up for the astronomical costs of a serious truck crash, including medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and more. If you or someone you love was hit by a large truck in Missouri or southern Illinois through no fault of your own, Carey, Danis & Lowe can help. To learn more at a free, confidential consultation, please contact our firm online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.
