July 7, 2011
An accident involving a tractor-trailer and numerous passenger vehicles on Interstate 40 left three people dead and the driver of the tractor-trailer behind bars. According to WRAL News, the Thursday afternoon crash happened at the Durham-Orange County line, on a stretch of the interstate where its three lanes are dropped to two.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, but currently believe the driver reacted too late to the closure of the left lane, and did not have enough road or time to stop his semi before plowing through three other vehicles. The truck initially hit a man driving a Ford F-250, embedding the smaller truck in the semi’s grill. It then proceeded to hit a woman in a Chevrolet Equinox before crashing into a third vehicle, which burst into flames and was too badly burned to identify. All three passenger vehicle drivers died at the scene of the crash.
The truck driver escaped the accident unscathed, as far as injuries, but authorities have brought numerous charges against him following the crash. He is currently being held in county jail under a $500,000 bond, and is facing charges for two counts of felony death by vehicle and one count of misdemeanor death by vehicle, in addition to charges for possession of marijuana, Methadone, and drug paraphernalia.
North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers with HensonFuerst know that time is valuable in the aftermath of a truck accident, and that prompt investigations can make all the difference in these cases. Visit their website for essential steps and procedures to take following involvement in a truck accident.