Riverview, FL — Three people were injured in an accident with a box truck in Riverview, Florida, on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. The accident took place on the Interstate 75 bridge going over the Alafia River, around 1:00 in the afternoon.
Andrew Ruth and Elizabeth Ela were driving over the bridge when a box truck merged into their lane and crashed into them. As they crawled out of their vehicle, they realized that the box truck drove off the side of the bridge, into the water.
All three suffered minor injuries. It’s not clear if anyone was taken to the hospital.
The accident is currently being investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP says that the driver of the box truck, identified as Tim Rowley, improperly changed lanes.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
Folks, at the end of the day a driver’s basic responsibility out on the road is to make sure that they don’t hurt anyone. Part of that means making sure that you actually have the room to change lanes on the interstate. Accidents like this one can be a little infuriating, because they’re so easily avoided. Had the driver of the box truck just taken a little more care in checking his mirrors, it’s very possible that none of this would have happened. Luckily, this accident wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. But who’s to say that those involved will be as lucky the next time? Now, we’re left asking questions about the driver’s abilities behind the wheel, as well as his employer’s attitude toward safety. What exactly needs to be addressed to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
— Grossman Law Offices
