Improperly secured mattress leads to fatal accident

When an individual makes the decision to transport oversized items in or on their vehicle, they assume the responsibility of ensuring that those articles are properly secured before entering a public roadway. In many cases, a particular vehicle is simply not suitable to transport certain items, and the decision should be made to find an alternative means of moving the item. One recent fatal accident demonstrates the severity of failing to properly secure a mattress before driving on a Pennsylvania Interstate, and has left multiple families in shock and the beginning stages of grief.

The crash took place in York, Pennsylvania when a mattress fell off of a vehicle and onto Interstate 83. In attempting to avoid hitting the mattress, the 46-year-old driver of a service truck began slowing down. However, a tractor-trailer travelling behind his truck was unable to slow quickly enough to avoid colliding with the rear of the truck.

The force of that collision pushed the service truck forward and into a third truck. A fire engulfed the middle vehicle, and the driver was killed. The drivers of the other two trucks were also injured in the crash, and required hospitalization. One of those men was reported still in serious condition as of the time of this report.

Charges have not yet been filed against the driver of the vehicle that lost the mattress, however the investigation into the incident is still underway. However, there is little question as to the cause of this fatal accident, and that the choices and actions of the individual who was transporting the mattress are to blame.

Source: pennlive.com, “Mattress in roadway led to fatal crash on Interstate 83 in York County, state police say,” Jeremy Arias, Feb. 22, 2013