More than a dozen vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction accident on westbound Interstate 70 near Warrenton, about 50 miles west of St. Louis, Missouri on December 23, 2008. As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the accident claimed the life of one motorist, Edwin W. Sargent, when he was struck by an out-of-control tractor trailer.
Edwin Sargent, 50, of Mill Spring, N.C., survived the initial crash. Sargent’s Toyota Camry had slid off the icy interstate and struck a Chevrolet that had already slid into the median and hit the cable barrier. Soon after Sargent and the driver of the Chevrolet exchanged information and took cell phone photos of the damage, two tractor-trailers came over a hill near the crash.
The drivers of the tractor-trailers lost control, and the two trucks smashed into each other. One truck flipped around and slid along the median, its rear tires on westbound I-70 and its front tires on eastbound I-70, striking and killing Sargent.
The driver of the Chevy, who was not identified, had gotten back into his car but was also seriously injured when the out-of-control tractor trailer struck his vehicle. Others were also injured.
From a legal perspective, Missouri law provides that “[e]very person operating a motor vehicle on the highways of this state shall drive the same in a careful and prudent manner, and shall exercise the highest degree of care, and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person”. R.S. Mo. 304.010. Missouri courts have held that “whether speed is excessive ordinarily depends upon the condition of the highway and surrounding circumstances”. Wolfe v. Harms, 413 S.W.2d 204, 210 (Mo. 1967).
This accident demonstrates why tractor trailer drivers should exercise the highest degree of care while driving their rigs, which may weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds. While the collision between Sargent’s Toyota Camry and the other driver’s Chevrolet resulted in a mere fender-bender on the icy road, the out-of-control tractor resulted in a tragic fatality.
In cases where trucking accidents cause serious harm or death, victims have the right to sue the people or organizations at fault for the accident. In an Illinois or Missouri trucking accident lawsuit, victims can claim payment for the financial costs of the accident, such as medical bills, and compensation for serious injuries, disabilities and any wrongful death.
Carey, Danis & Lowe represents victims of commercial truck accidents throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. Located in St. Louis and in Belleville, Ill., our experienced trucking accident lawyers can help you pinpoint who was at fault for the accident, protect your rights from any wrongdoing by lawyers for the other side and prove your case in a court of law (if necessary). If you would like to know more, you can contact the Lowe Law Firm online or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.
