Prince Frederick, MD — Earlier this week, a woman in the Prince Frederick area was badly injured along with a 5-year old boy after they were hit by a large commercial truck whose driver was under the influence. Police identified the woman as Sherrese Russell, 30, but didn’t name the child.
They said that the accident happened along Solomons Island Road at about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon of this week, November 23.
Truck driver Frank Lowman IV, 51, was driving a stake body truck (a flatbed-style truck with a trailer attached) along Solomons Island Road that afternoon when he came upon slowed or stopped traffic at an intersection near the Fox Run Shopping Center. Failing to stop, Lowman’s large truck crashed into the back of a Hyundai, then swerved into oncoming traffic and struck another Hyundai.
The second Hyundai was driven by Sherrese Russell and police said that she sustained serious leg and facial injuries. A 5-year old boy was also badly injured and required a medical helicopter to take him to a hospital. The news reports didn’t specify which vehicle he was in.
The truck driver, Frank Lowman, was found to be obviously under the influence after “miserably” failing a sobriety test, police noted. They also allegedly found marijuana paraphernalia and remnants in his truck. He was promptly arrested and charged with DUI.
In total, eight people were hurt in this accident, but Russell and the 5-year old boy were the most seriously harmed.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
Accidents like this are always shocking because I think most people can’t even fathom why someone would get behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of anything. But, here’s something else to consider. That big truck isn’t something that you drive around town for personal pleasure, it’s something you haul materials in to a worksite or to a business.
My point here is that this driver probably didn’t own that truck, he was probably on the job or driving it for a company. Now, for those of you who don’t know, companies can’t give out their vehicles to just anyone, much less large trucks like this one. No, they have to make sure their employees are good drivers, have a clean record, know how to operate the vehicle, etc. I suppose I don’t really have to say this, but companies aren’t supposed to let intoxicated employees drive their vehicles either.
How were they supposed to know their driver was under the influence? Well, did he have any problems in the past? Did he check in that day with any supervisors? Heck, was he even trained and licensed to operate that truck? At the end of the day, companies are liable for their employees’ actions, even if they’re doing something illegal. I’d argue that this driver probably shouldn’t have been behind the wheel in the first place and I’d like to hear what his employer (if he was on the job) has to say about this accident. My guess is that they’ll try to say that he was doing something illegal and therefore they’re not responsible for his actions, instead of just owning up and doing the right thing.
— Grossman Law Offices
