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Out-of-control truck kills 2 in West Virginia

On Behalf of | Oct 18, 2018 | Truck Accidents |

A horrific accident in West Virginia involving an out-of-control tractor-trailer killed two people and left a third critically injured on the morning of Oct. 11. The crash took place on the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 near Camp Creek State Park in Mercer County at approximately 10:41 a.m. Police have filed no charges in connection with the accident, but reports indicate that their investigation is ongoing.

According to a West Virginia State Patrol report, the sequence of events began when the driver of a northbound semi-tractor trailer lost control of his vehicle and crossed the median into the path of oncoming traffic. The big rig then stuck a southbound Subaru wagon head on. Rescue workers dispatched to the scene say that they arrived to find the Subaru pinned under the wheels of the truck.

Emergency rescue workers used cutting equipment to extract the occupants of the Subaru from their badly damaged vehicle. Two of the Subaru’s occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The third was rushed to an area trauma center in critical condition. The truck driver escaped the accident without injury. The traffic backup caused by the accident stretched for miles at one point. Reports indicate that vehicles were still being restricted to a single lane more than eight hours later as accident investigation teams and highway workers went about their duties.

Collisions like this one are generally investigated thoroughly by law enforcement, and the ensuing accident reports may contain information that experienced personal injury attorneys could use to prove negligence in civil lawsuits. Investigations into accidents like this one could reveal that truck drivers were fatigued or distracted when they lost control of their vehicles. They could also yield evidence of inadequate maintenance or substandard repairs.

Source: WVVA, “UPDATE: 2 killed, 1 injured in I-77 crash”, Oct. 11, 2018