Slidell, LA — Police believe that the driver of an 18-wheeler was drunk when he passed out behind the wheel and crashed into a motorcyclist in Slidell, Louisiana, on Friday, August 7, 2105. The accident took place at the intersection of 190 West and Carnation Street, around 7:00 in the evening.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was identified as 56-year-old Timothy Duimstra. Police say that he was headed west on 190 when he passed out inside his truck and drove off the road. The motorcyclist was stopped off of Carnation, and was hit by the truck.
The collision threw the motorcyclist into the grass, while the motorcycle was dragged beneath the truck.
The motorcyclist hasn’t been named. He suffered serious injuries in the accident, and was taken to a local hospital. Officials say that he’ll recover.
Police found Duimstra to be slurring his words and was unable to stand up straight. Police determined that he was drunk and they placed him under arrest. He’s been charged with neglect injury, DUI, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
The accident is still being investigated.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
Duimstra allegedly told police that he, “messed up.” Yeah. I’d say he messed up. What he did was flat out unacceptable, and really makes you wonder if something with that sort of judgement should be driving an 80,000 lbs. vehicle at highway speeds. But beyond him, we have to look at his employer. What kind of safety protocols and training to they have? What are their hiring practices? Sometimes, you find that a trucking company is just as complicit in these sorts of accidents are the drivers who cause them. Is it possible that low standards led to this accident taking place? In any case, I’d say that both the driver and the trucking company have some pretty tough questions to answer right now.
— Grossman Law Offices
