PENDLETON, IN — A chain-reaction crash involving a tractor-trailer and several cars left one woman dead in Pendleton, Indiana on Monday, June 23rd, 2014, according to the news released by WTHR.
Investigators believe Audrey Chavez was killed when the vehicle she was in was struck from the rear by a tractor-trailer while driving on Intestate 96 around 11:20 Monday morning. The vehicle was pushed into a pickup truck before erupting into flames.
Scene of the Accident
Audrey Chavez was killed in the crash.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as 58-year-old Kim McCall.
The Indiana State Police are helping local authorities with the accident investigation.
Commentary:
I’ve seen plenty of accidents like this, and they generally fall one of two ways. Either the truck experienced a sudden and catastrophic mechanical problem, such as a locked steering column, or an air brake failure, which regular cars suffer every day, in which case the trucking company responsible for the maintenance could be liable for the accident. On the other hand, the trucker could have had their head in the clouds, distracted by phones, tablets, televisions, or in some cases, dinner. If this turns out to be the case, the trucking company would also be faulted for the accident. Unless there is some major detail I cannot see in the news, this accident is surely worth the time of another, closer look.
–Grossman Law Offices
