BENTON COUNTY, IA — A three vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer left one person dead and a truck driver in the hospital in Benton County, Iowa on Monday, July 7th, 2014, according to the news article released by The Des Moines Register.
Police familiar with details of the crash investigation say that they believe Michael Brawner was hurt when the tractor-trailer he was driving was struck head-on by a vehicle that is thought to have crossed the median of Highway 21 around 11:30 Monday morning.
Scene of the Accident
Michael Brawner was taken by paramedics to St Luke’s Hospital where an update on his injuries was not made available by medical staff.
The driver of the other vehicle was identified in the report as 59-year-old Mark Skyles, who was pronounced dead after the accident.
The investigation is currently active.
Commentary:
While police are still determining the cause of this crash, there are a few details that really need to be thoroughly investigated. First off, most of the accident summaries you see in the news are drafted based on police reports that are released to the public. These police statements are taken down by officers at the scene, who are busy with directing traffic, clearing the road of wreckage and glass, tending to victims, listening to their radios, all while doing their best to write down the facts at the scene as how they see them. Needless to say there is a great margin for error in these reports, and many I come across are refuted or thrown out altogether. This is why a second look into an accident like this is always worthwhile for all those involved.
–Grossman Law Offices
