An equipment malfunction on any kind of motor vehicle can lead to a dangerous situation for anyone in that vehicle, as well as other people nearby. The danger can increase when the faulty equipment is on a big rig. A recent fatal accident near Ocala was the result of this kind of equipment problem.
The accident occurred on Interstate 75 when a semi-truck heading northbound blew its left front tire and the 68-year-old driver was unable to control the vehicle. The 1986 International semi-truck then crossed the median and broke through the guardrail into the southbound lanes where it crashed into a pickup truck.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the 53-year-old man driving the pickup truck, along with a 63-year-old female passenger, died from the collision. The semi-truck driver was thrown from the semi-truck and emergency responders took him to Ocala Regional Medical Center in stable condition. Marion County sheriff’s deputies and state troopers had to close the southbound lanes of I-75 for hours, and they directed traffic to other routes.
Like so many other truck accidents, this one is a reminder of the dangers involved with semi-trucks. Other vehicles may not be able to smash through concrete or metal guardrails. But the enormous size and weight of a semi-truck creates a seemingly unstoppable amount of force when the truck is traveling at high speeds on a highway. Moreover, drivers of smaller vehicles may be able to regain control even after an equipment issue like a blown tire. But regaining control of a tractor-trailer is not a simple task, even for a trained driver.
When truck accidents result in injuries to other people, the driver and the truck company may be responsible for compensating the victims or their loved ones. Even when an equipment malfunction causes the accident, negligence on the part of the truck company could be a factor in the equipment problem and resulting accident.
All truck drivers and truck companies must be dedicated to safety on the roadways. The consequences for any lapse in safety are just too high.
Source: The Gainesville Sun, “Fatal accident on I-75 south of Ocala,” Austin L. Miller, Nov. 20, 2014
