West Frankfort Truck Accident Kills 2 College Students
The driver of a big rig who dozed off on Interstate 57 caused a fatal West Frankfort truck accident, which killed two people and seriously injured two others, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Yasmin S. Jackson and Kevetta C. Davis, both 19 and sophomores at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale died in the crash.
The truck driver, who was transporting equipment for rock star Bret Michaels fell asleep at the wheel, crossed over the interstate and slammed into Jackson’s sport utility vehicle and a pickup, officials said.
The driver of the pickup, 63-year-old William B. Wiley and his passenger Colleen N. Wiley, 59, suffered major injuries. The big rig driver, 38-year-old Dennis Hernandez of Lamont, Calif. suffered minor injuries. He was reportedly charged with driving on a suspended license and several other traffic violations.
Fatigue is a leading cause of commercial truck accident in Missouri and the rest of the nation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires truck drivers to stop driving beyond a certain number of hours. The law mandates that a driver can drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. A truck driver also cannot drive more than 60 or 70 hours on duty for seven to eight consecutive days.
But very often trucking companies cut corners to cater to unrealistic delivery schedules and increase their profits. Breaking the law and allowing truckers to drive on without any rest amounts to negligence on the part of the truck driver and his or her employer.
This fatal Missouri truck accident, which took two young lives, may have been prevented if the driver had adequate rest and breaks throughout his workday. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in a big rig or commercial truck accident, please call or e-mail me. I’m more than willing to schedule a free consultation and address your questions and concerns.
