Every day you share West Virginia roadways with a range of different vehicles. When interacting with them, especially large trucks, it is essential that you understand how to do so safely. One road that is no stranger to accidents involving semi-trucks is I-470. This roadway is not only busy but it also has a steep slope downhill, which poses a challenge to large trucks that cannot stop as quickly as passenger vehicles.
A recent crash involving two semis and an SUV brings this point home. While the accident is still under investigation and no cause is known at this time, reports of the aftermath paint a dark picture. One semi involved hit a barrier wall, and one had the side torn open. One of the trucks caught fire, and fire raged after the accident for quite some time before firefighters could get it completely out.
Two people died in the crash. One was the driver of the SUV, and the other’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of the family. Officers continue to work to reconstruct the scene and determine exactly how this terrible accident occurred. Investigations at the site had I-470 closed for several hours.
While the cause of this accident is not known, eyewitness accounts say one of the trucks jackknifed, which could occur due to many reasons. Law enforcement has yet to release a statement about its findings or to note who or what led to the accident.
Accidents like this one often occur due to driver error. Whether it was because of driving too fast, being cut off or some other bad driving habit, the end result was the loss of life, which is never okay. It might be helpful if you find yourself an accident such as this to talk to an attorney.