Clarksfield Township, OH — Two people were injured in an accident caused by a semi-truck in Clarksfield Township, Ohio, on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. The accident happened on Highway 18, around 10:00 at night.
Austyn Stephens is a 16-year old who was driving a Chevy Trailblazer along Highway 18 and being followed by his mother, 38-year old Kari Stephens. As they were driving, Kari was rear-ended by a semi-truck being driven by Mark Francis.
The collision caused Kari to rear-end her son, which then drove off the side of the road. Francis’ semi drove over Kari’s vehicle, also pushing it off the road and into a ditch. The semi came to a stop on top of the vehicle, which trapped Kari inside.
Paramedics responding to the scene were forced to extricate Kari from her vehicle. She was then taken to Cleveland MetroHospital Medical Center and has been listed in critical condition. Austyn Stephens was suffered minor injuries. He was taken to a hospital, treated and released.
Franciswas not injured in the accident.
Police are currently investigating the accident. They don’t believe that drugs or alcohol were involved. So far, no charge have been filed.
Approximate Scene of the Accident
Commentary
What was so important that the driver of the semi couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to what was on the road in front of him? I’ve taken a look at the Mr. Francis’ driving record, and he’s had criminal charges brought against him in the past, many of them related to speeding and the way he handles his vehicles. These charges go back years, and now we have this accident, which happened last week. This seems to be a pattern here. I’m left with two questions, what is the driver doing behind the wheel of a semi-truck, and is his employer aware of his behavior? Have they taken measures to correct it? The victims involved in this accident survived. Victims in another accident may not be so lucky.
The bottom line here is that this sort of behavior isn’t acceptable. Semi drivers are capable of causing a lot of damage with their vehicles, and so are held to a higher standard because of it. The semi driver here isn’t living up to that standard. He should be held responsible. If his employer is aware of it and hasn’t taken steps to correct it, or if they’ve created an atmosphere of tolerance, in which this sort of behavior is ignored, they should also be held responsible. Honestly, how many times is enough?
— Grossman Law Offices
