Odessa, TX — Four people were sent to the hospital following a tractor-trailer accident in Odessa, Texas, on Friday, February 20, 2015. The accident took place on Interstate 20, near the intersection with Highway 385, around 6:45 in the morning.
According to local reports, the driver of a tractor-trailer, identified as 45-year old Alexis Perez, was in the process of changing lanes when he crashed into two vehicles driven by 58-year old Guadalupe Sandoval and 53-year old Ramon Mendoza.
A Ford F-450 being driven by Jeremy Kelley stopped to avoid being swept up in the accident, but was rear-ended by Jacob Johnson. The semi’s trailer then hit Johnson’s vehicle and another vehicle being driven by Alfonso Sepulbeda.
Four people were hospitalized for injuries sustained in the accident. Ramon Mendoza and Guadalupe Sandoval were among them. In addition, two passengers, identified as 22-year old Adrian Mendoza and 25-year old Raymond Mendoza were also taken in. All four were transported to Medical Center Hospital.
Police cited Perez for making an unsafe lane change.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
How old are children when their parents begin telling them to look both ways before crossing the street? That same advice can be given to drivers on the road. If a driver isn’t looking to see who’s to either side of his vehicle, he runs the risk of crashing into them when he changes lanes. For someone who drives a vehicle for a living, this should be second nature. To be honest, if a truck driver isn’t able to make sure the way is clear before changing lanes in a vehicle that weighs 80,000 lbs., I question whether or not he should even be behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, trucking companies are notorious for defending bad accidents like this. Commercial vehicles are required to carry quite a bit of insurance, so they’re going to do everything they can to shove as much liability off of themselves and onto other parties involved in the accident. Proving accidents like this takes evidence. Skids marks on the road, witness interviews, surveillance camera footage, data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module. Trucking companies have no qualms with fighting back when it comes to these sorts of accidents. Often, the only way they’re convinced to make things right with those who have been hurt are to see that dragging an accident through court is going to cost them more.
— Grossman Law Offices
