Stopping your vehicle on the shoulder of a major thoroughfare carries certain risks, especially at night, but other drivers on the roadway nonetheless have to remain alert in the presence of stopped or disabled vehicles. Otherwise, a single moment of inattention can result in tragedy.
Police are investigating why a dump truck in La Verne collided with a car parked on the shoulder of the 210 Freeway. Sadly, the crash took the life of one man and seriously injured another. The collision happened shortly before 4 a.m. on June 11.
According to reports, a dump truck heading eastbound on the freeway left the road and hit the parked car. The impact knocked the car into the middle of the roadway, and the truck continued moving until it hit the freeway’s center divider.
One of the car occupants, a 34-year-old Irvine man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupant was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment.
The driver of the dump truck was uninjured.
No criminal charges were immediately filed, although the crash investigation is underway. At the time of reports, police did not know if speed or distracted driving played a part in the crash.
Clearly, truck accidents can have catastrophic consequences. Drivers of large trucks owe a duty of care to protect other motorists from unreasonable risk of injury, and truck accident victims or their families should speak with an attorney about holding all responsible parties liable. A personal injury attorney can investigate to determine if a truck driver or a trucking company violated state and federal regulations.
Source: Insidesocal.com, “Irvine man killed in crash on 210 Freeway in La Verne,” Brian Day, June 11, 2014
Source: KTTV Los Angeles, “Motorist Killed, One Injured in 210 Truck Crash,” Jeffrey Thomas DeSocio, June 11, 2014