Posted in Truck Wreck on September 1, 2014
Earlier this week in Franklin, the driver of a tanker-trailer was killed when he crashed his truck into a support beam under an overpass. According to a report by one local news source, the fatal truck accident occurred early on a Friday morning on Interstate 65 south.
Evidently, the truck driver was heading south on Interstate 65 when he struck a support column holding up an overpass bridge. The truck was carrying unleaded gasoline and exploded on impact, creating a bomb-like explosion, witnesses report. The driver of the truck was immediately killed in the explosion. The force of the truck colliding with the pole was so great that it split the truck in two.
The explosion started a fire that melted the wrought iron on the bridge above. Eventually, the fire spread and compromised the structural integrity of two other bridges in the area. Crews will have to tear down these bridges because they are unsafe for travel.
The cause of the accident remains unknown. However, investigators told reporters that it looks as though the driver was traveling at “interstate speeds” at the time of the accident. The damage to the bridge may require that it too be torn down. Even if the bridge can be saved, the damage it sustained is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Tanker-Trucks Can Be Bombs on Wheels
Semi-trucks are inherently more dangerous than other vehicles on the road due to their size. However, these huge trucks become even more dangerous when they carry explosive or flammable materials, like the truck in the accident above. When a truck driver knows that he or she is carrying a load that could explode if a crash occurs, he or she should take extra care when towing that load.
Sadly, the truck driver above lost his life. However, it is also fortunate that no one else was hurt, given the magnitude of the crash. Had the accident occurred during the day, rather than in the early morning hours, it is likely that there could have been additional victims.
It may provide little solace, but those who are injured or killed in fatal semi-truck accidents do have one means of recourse in a Tennessee negligence action against the driver or trucking company responsible for the accident. Rarely do these kinds of accidents occur without the truck driver’s negligence. It is up to the accident victim and his or her attorney to hold the negligent party responsible.
Have You Been Injured in a Tennessee Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Tennessee truck accident that you believe was the fault of the truck driver, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries or losses. To learn more about the laws in Tennessee that provide accident victims and their families the ability to recover financially after a crash, click here, or call 615-200-1111 to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated Tennessee accident attorney.
See Related Blog Posts:
Possible DUI Accident Claims One Man’s Life in Cheatham County, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published August 18, 2014.
Domino-Effect Accident Leaves Three Dead in Tennessee, Nashville Injury Lawyer’s Blog, published July 15, 2014.
