Truck accident in Pennsylvania kills driver

A tanker truck and a tractor-trailer were seriously damaged in a head-on collision in Montgomery County around 6 a.m. on April 27, according to state police. Pennsylvania authorities responded to the truck accident that caused the entire road to be shut down. One of the two drivers involved was killed in the crash, and considerable damage was done to the area resulting in power outages. 

Police and witnesses on the scene confirmed the cab of the tractor-trailer somehow separated from the trailer. The trailer then struck the other truck head-on. The trailer had been carrying cosmetic powder, which then covered the area as a result of the impact. The tanker was carrying sewage, which also spilled all over the roadway, causing hours of delay for drivers. The tractor-trailer was observed to be on fire after the collision, but the blaze was extinguished by firefighters.

The tanker truck’s cab was seriously damaged in the impact, trapping the driver inside. Rescuers were able to extract the man from his vehicle, but not quickly enough to save his life. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver escaped uninjured, and police are still conducting an investigation into what caused the accident. 

The family of the deceased trucker may wish to pay close attention to the outcome of the Pennsylvania police investigation. If the truck accident was precipitated by human error in the case of the trailer becoming unhitched, the family may be able to file a wrongful death suit either against the driver of the tractor-trailer or against the company he works for. Such a suit would require compelling evidence that the mechanical error was preventable or avoidable. 

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: NBC Philadelphia, “Tanker Truck, Tractor-Trailer Collide Head-on Along Pennsylvania Road, Driver Dies“, Dan Stamm and David Chang, April 28, 2015