Officials who investigated a fatal crash in Kentucky that resulted in multiple deaths say that the semi-truck driver who crashed into the back of an SUV was distracted. The accident occurred on Interstate 65 and caused the deaths of six people from Wisconsin, including two children. All of the victims of the wrongful death crash were passengers in the SUV. Additionally, two teens were injured and hospitalized.
A Wisconsin couple, their foster children, and an elderly neighbor were on their return trip home from a vacation in Florida on the day of the crash. The driver of the semi-truck is from Michigan, and he sustained no injuries. This fatal accident caused delays on the interstate, and a subsequent smaller accident occurred in the opposite lanes of the freeway about 15 minutes later.
The driver gave investigators a blood sample following the crash, which helped determine that he was not impaired at the time of the incident. Therefore, the National Transportation Safety Board has said that it will not investigate the crash further. It was not reported what the distraction was that caused the fatal accident, but the trucking company that employed the distracted driver has been issued 17 citations in the last two years. Reasons for the company’s citations include following too closely, speeding and unsafe lane changes.
Even following all traffic laws and driving safely and defensively cannot assure someone that they will not encounter a distracted driver while on the road. If faced with the loss of a loved one due to a sudden accident on any road, whether in Wisconsin or another state, an attorney who focuses in wrongful death and truck accidents can help sort out the details.
Source: River Falls Journal, “Fatal crash investigation continues,” March 6, 2013
