Ormond Beach, FL — Two people were killed and six were sent to the hospital after an accident involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger van in Ormond Beach, Florida, on Saturday, August 30, 2014. The accident took place on Interstate 95, around 5:30 in the morning.
According to local police, an 18-wheeler being driven by Javier Flores was traveling north on 95 when it suddenly veered into the path of a passenger van being driven by Angel Benitez. This caused the van to swerve onto the interstate’s shoulder and roll over.
Two people were killed in the accident. Police have identified them as Angel and Angela Benitez. Six others inside the van were put in the hospital.
The crash is still being investigated. Police are still unsure of what caused Flores to swerve into the path of the van.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
This kind of behavior show’s a very serious lack of awareness on the part of the truck driver as to what’s going on on the road around him. It should come as no surprise that changing lanes in an 18-wheeler is not the same as changing lanes in a Dodge Dart. 18-wheelers are longer, they weigh more, and truck drivers have to give more care to the way they maneuver them. From what’s been reported, it doesn’t seem like that happened here.
If the truck driver was operating his vehicle in an unsafe manner, we have to ask why. If he wasn’t paying attention to the road, what was he paying attention to? If he was speeding, that can be checked. If he was on his phone, that can be checked. And it needs to be checked. If the driver of the truck wasn’t doing his job this time, we need to know whether or not we can trust him to do his job in the future.
— Grossman Law Offices
