PINE GROVE, NJ — A two-vehicle accident took the life of one motorist in Pine Grove, New Jersey on Sunday, March 30th, 2014, according to a news report from The Republican Herald.
Authorities with details of the crash investigation have said that Richard Novatka was killed when the car he was driving was hit from the rear by a tractor-trailer while driving in Pine Grove Township.
Scene of the Accident
Richard Novatka was pronounced dead on the scene by emergency response personnel when they arrived. One other passenger in the vehicle was taken by Helicopter to Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
Scene of the Accident
Whenever I see a rear-end accident involving a tractor-trailer, my mind is immediately flooded with questions. Very few accidents are as avoidable as rear-end collisions, and anybody who says otherwise is wrong. Following too closely and speeding are generally the culprits in crashes like this one. Truck driver’s are extensively trained on tailoring their speed and following distance to accommodate for road conditions. If the driver was speeding he may not have had the time to stop for slowing traffic. If the driver was following too closely, he may not have given himself enough distance to stop the truck, despite driving at the speed limit, and lastly, the driver could have been distracted looking at his GPS or phone before causing the accident. Any of these three situations would yield very serious questions for the trucking company, who should be held accountable for the accident if the facts line up.
–Grossman Law Offices
