A recent big-rig truck accident resulted in the death of the truck driver, but fortunately did not result in even more fatalities. According to sources, the accident occurred during the early morning hours when the truck, driving northbound on I-5, suddenly veered across the meridian and then crashed into a bridge overpass. The upper half of the truck was literally sheered in half, and the groceries that the truck was carrying were spread all over the freeway.

A veteran California highway patrol man commented on the severity of the crash and stated he had never seen anything like it. The crash left one lane of the freeway closed for several hours. There was no indication that there was any structural damage to the bridge overpass, however, but this was a distinct possibility.

It cannot be understated the difficulties truckers face in fulfilling their tasks. The drivers can be behind the wheel for several hours at a time and driving routes in the hundreds if not thousands of miles. Often they are asked to move their loads overnight. Since they face fatigue, the temptation to take substances to stay awake has to be very great.

On top of all this, truck drivers are asked to operate vehicles that were not necessarily designed for our nation's highways and expressways. Such vehicles are difficult to operate even under normal conditions, but to expect them to navigate on the same roads as other traffic can frequently make for a deadly combination.

Large trucking companies are responsible for the routes that truck drivers take, the shifts that they work, and the financial incentives they place upon drivers to get their loads to the next destination quickly. So when an accident involving a truck does occur, such companies must also accept accountability for what occurs. Only when safe working conditions are implemented by the truck companies will we see a reduction in the number of truck accidents.

Source: News10, "Truck driver killed in horrific accident on 1-5 S near Galt," by Paul Janes, Jan. 19, 2012