Upper Macungie, PA — Five teenagers were injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer in Upper Macungie, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. The accident took place on Interstate 78, near the Route 100 interchange, around 11:45 in the morning.
The accident happened when a Honda Civic passed a semi-truck on its right, and the pulled into the left lane. The Civic struck the truck and flipped over. All five teens inside the vehicle suffered moderate injuries.
Four of teens were 17 years old their names weren’t released. Eighteen-year-old Keian Rushing was another passenger inside the car. The driver of the semi was identified as 49-year-old Joseph Hegedus. He wasn’t injured in the crash.
The injured teens were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment. Police say that the driver will receive a traffic violation.
Scene of the Accident
Approximate View from the Road
Commentary
I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone to learn that drivers have a responsibility to their passengers whenever they’re out on the road together. Any driver whose passengers are hurt because of something they did can be held responsible for it. And rightfully so. Looking at this accident specifically, cutting off a semi-truck showed a huge disregard for the safety of the passengers inside the vehicle. I don’t think drivers should be barred from every driving again whenever something like this happens, but they do need to be held accountable for it. Luckily, people in this crash were only injured. Things could have turned out much worse.
— Grossman Law Offices
