SAN CLEMENTE, CA — A two-vehicle accident killed one driver in San Clemente, California on Thursday, March 20th, 2014, according to a news release from the San Juan Capistrano.
Authorities working close to the crash investigation have said that they have reason to believe one person was hurt when the pickup truck that was towing a 1950 Oldsmobile was struck from the rear by a flatbed tractor-trailer that was hauling lumber while driving on Highway 5. The accident happened around 1:00 in the afternoon Thursday.
Scene of the Accident
The driver of the pickup truck had to be cut from the vehicle and was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency response personnel when they arrived.
The investigation into the accident is being handled by officials from the California State Police.
Commentary:
If this news article is to believed, the driver of the commercial vehicle seems to be at fault. Commercial vehicle drivers are trained to adjust speed and especially following distances to account for potentially adverse road conditions. Any time I see a tractor-trailer rear-end a vehicle, I see a clear failure to adjust following distances, or speeding, driver inattention or a mechanical failure. Provided that the vehicle did not cut instantly into the truck’s path, the trucking company would have to face serious questions for all four of these possibilities. Commercial trucking companies have a lot of money invested in their drivers and trucks, and will spend whatever it takes to protect their investments, even when they know they’re in the wrong in an accident.
–Grossman Law Offices
