A 29-year old driver was killed in Wentzville, just outside of St. Louis, earlier this month when a semi-truck driver made a careless and deadly mistake, apparently in order to save time. The lethal accident is a reminder of how the trucking industry’s attempts to meet deadlines and save costs can often result in severe and irreversible consequences for innocent bystanders.
The crash occurred on I-70 when David J. Strembesky, a 55-year old truck driver from British Columbia, apparently missed the exit to Highway 61 that he had planned to take. Rather than simply continuing on to a later exit and safely turning around to go back to Highway 61, the trucker instead appears to have stopped the truck in the left lane of I-70 in an “attempt to execute several lane changes to exit the interstate after missing his exit,” according to the highway patrol’s report of the accident.
When the truck driver made this careless move of coming to a stop in the left lane, another motorist, identified as Lauren Smith of Warrenton, was behind the truck and could not stop her minivan quickly enough to avoid colliding with the back of the truck. She died at the scene. Strembesky was not injured in the crash. The Highway Patrol arrested the truck driver for careless and imprudent driving, and the trucker was released.
Accident Another Example of Consequences of Careless Truck Driving
Our nation’s economy depends on commercial transportation, and Joplin serves as a major highway thoroughfare for the entire country, connecting the eastern half of the United States with the western half. There are many responsible truckers and trucking companies operating in our area of Missouri, and our region depends on them, but there are, of course, too many examples of irresponsible driving, spurred on by unreasonable demands on drivers by their employers and customers. Furthermore, too many times, the drive to save money cuts into other drivers’ need for safety.
We see this play out in all kinds of trucking accidents that could have been avoided if the responsible parties simply took the time and care to promote safety. Such accidents are often caused by speeding truckers racing to meet deadlines, fatigued truckers driving along the highways for over 11 hours a day (and often much, much more), and improperly maintained equipment and safety features. Such actions are inexcusable, and when they result in injury to others can become the basis of a negligence lawsuit against the responsible parties.
Joplin Truck Accident Attorneys Are Here to Help
If you have been injured in a truck accident, or if a loved one has died in a truck accident, the truck accident attorneys at The Hershewe Law Firm in Joplin have the experience to investigate your accident, bring the responsible defendants to justice, and get the compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income that you and your family deserves. For a free consultation with one of our truck accident attorneys, call us today at 417-999-9999.