A truck accident on Interstate 79 left two people, including the driver of a passenger car, injured. The semi-truck driver was also injured. Both of the victims had to be taken to the hospital.
The circumstances of the accident, which happened south of Morgantown, were a bit unusual.
Authorities say that the driver of the truck was traveling in night in foggy conditions. Because of the fog, the truck driver crashed his vehicle, which ultimately rolled over.
The truck was hauling approximately 30 cattle. Some of these cows got out of the truck and were standing in the middle of the Interstate. The driver of the passenger vehicle came onto the scene and crashed into one of the cows, causing a second injury accident.
Many of the cattle were also either killed in the accident itself or were significantly injured and had to be put down.
Truckers are responsible for their cargo
This accident is unusual in that the truck driver did not actually collide with another vehicle.
No doubt that the details of this accident will continue to be investigated, so it is difficult to assign a degree of responsibility either to the trucker or the driver of the passenger vehicle.
However, it seems that the driver did not successfully adjust his speed or driving habits to account for poor weather conditions. As a result, he crashed and spilled his cargo, which included large animals in this case.
It is worth repeating that truck drivers, and the trucking companies which employ them, are legally responsible for their cargo under West Virginia law. If their cargo spills out of their vehicles and causes an injury traffic accident, the victims may be able to get compensation.
