A motorcyclist was killed in Suwanee, GA on September 14, 2011 on the northbound I-85 at the I-985 split after being hit with a tire tread which caused him to lay the bike down directly into the path of an oncoming semi truck. Photo credit: MyFoxAtlanta.com

The victim, identified as Lonnie Cross, 35, was riding his motorcycle Wednesday, Sept 14, at about 5:30 p.m. in the left lane of northbound I-85 at the I-985 split when he hit the tire tread after it had been struck by another vehicle.

Map showing location of fatal semi truck accident on the northbound I-85 at the I-985 split where a motorcyclist was killed by a semi-truck after being struck by debris from a flying tire tread.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

Cross lost control of his motorcycle, and after laying the motorcycle down on the roadway, he ended up resting in the center lane in the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer, police say. The driver of the truck could not avoid running over Cross, police say.

Cross died at Gwinnett Medical Center. Police say no charges were pending.

For some time, all lanes of I-85 were closed in the area, with traffic being re-routed to I-985.

In recent months at least a half dozen motorcyclists have been involved in fatal crashes on metro Atlanta highways.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Georgia truck accident lawyers.

Atlanta, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. Georgia metropolitan cities besides Atlanta with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Gainesville, Marietta and Roswell to name a few.

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Scene of fatal accident where the 24-year old driver of a Jeep was killed by a logging truck that ran a red light in Glenwood Springs, CO on August 16, 2011. Photo credit: Kelley Cox, Post Independent

The truck driver, identified as John H. Briggs, 58, of Del Norte, was heading south when he collided with a Jeep on Highway 82 near the Buffalo Valley intersection at 1:17 p.m. The driver of the Jeep was identified as Claudia Tena de Ramirez, 24, of Glenwood Springs.

Map showing location of fatal logging truck accident at County Road 154 and US Highway 82 in Glenwood Springs, CO on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports:

De Ramirez was making a left turn onto Highway 82 from County Road 154 when the accident occurred. The semi truck hit the driver’s side of the Jeep and pushed it across both oncoming traffic lanes, coming to rest on the northeast shoulder of the highway.

Alcohol, drugs and speed are not considered factors in this crash, the state patrol reported. Briggs was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but was not injured.

Briggs has been charged with wreckless driving causing a death.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Colorado truck accident lawyers.

Colorado, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. Colorado metropolitan cities with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Arvada, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins to name a few.

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Marcos Costa, center, reacts in a Pasadena courtroom to being acquitted of second degree murder.… (POOL PHOTO BY Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Costa was charged with second-degree murder, after his runaway 18 wheeler semi truck swerved out of control down Angeles Crest Highway killing 12-year-old Angelina Posca, and her 58-year-old father, Angel George Posca of Palmdale.

The victims were in a sedan that was struck by Costa’s truck when they were pushed along the roadway and struck by several other cars before the truck slammed into a bookstore.

The jurors previously told the court they were in agreement on some of the major allegations but were divided on others.

After a week of deliberations, Costa was acquitted of second-degree murder charges, but the jury decided to convict him of two lesser counts of involuntary manslaughter and three counts of reckless driving causing an injury.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Los Angeles truck accident lawyers.

California, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. California metropolitan cities besides Los Angeles with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Mission Viejo, Moreno Valley, Mountain View, Newport Beach and Orange to name a few.

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Costa is charged with seven counts, including second-degree murder, after his runaway 18 wheeler semi truck swerved out of control down Angeles Crest Highway killing 12-year-old Angelina Posca, and her 58-year-old father, Angel George Posca of Palmdale. The victims were in a sedan that was struck by Costa’s truck when they were pushed along the roadway and struck by several other cars before the truck slammed into a bookstore.

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A Los Angeles County prosecutor has argued for the murder conviction of Costa after his runaway semi truck swerved out of control down Angeles Crest Highway, crashing into several vehicles injuring several victims and killing a man and his 12-year old  daughter in Lacañada Flintridge.

Mercury News reports:

A Los Angeles County prosecutor said Costa showed gross negligence by ignoring an off-duty firefighter’s warning that the Angeles Crest Highway through the San Gabriel Mountains was too dangerous for his 25-ton car hauler and he should turn around.

The prosecutor told jurors Tuesday that Costa “turned his big rig into a death rig” by ignoring warnings that the mountain road he was driving on was unsafe for an 18-wheeler.

They said that although he poured water on his smoking brakes, he didn’t wait for them to cool down before continuing on the highway. The truck hurtled down a 1.5-mile-long descent, plowed through cross-traffic and smashed into a bookstore in the foothill suburb of La Canada Flintridge.

Costa’s lawyer argued Wednesday that he was following directions on his GPS to get through the mountains, saw no warning signs and never meant to cause the accident.

“Insidious geography” and the lack of a runaway truck safety ramp were to blame for the April 2009 crash, defense lawyer Edward Murphy said during closing arguments.

“There’s no evidence of criminal intent whatsoever,” Murphy said. “He simply did the best he could.’”

“We know that Mr. Costa was in a panic, doing everything—including praying—to stop the truck,” Murphy said. “Do you think he wanted to hit anybody? … Of course he didn’t.”

“Yes, he did kill them. He killed them in an accident, an accident,” the defense attorney said. “This was a horrendous accident.”

Costa’s testimony concluded with Murphy asking him about his thoughts after the accident had concluded.

“I thought if something happen, I wish it had been with me,” said Costa. “I didn’t want to hurt anybody.” … “I was desperate. I was in a panic. I didn’t know what to do.”

Comments:

Poorly maintained truck brakes are the single greatest factor contributing to truck accidents, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). More than 29 percent of truck accidents in the study involved brake failure, brakes out of adjustment, worn brake components, or other problems with the truck brakes. If you have been injured because a truck’s brakes were improperly maintained, please contact a truck accident attorney at Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P. We represent victims of truck accidents nationwide.

The tire and brake assemblies of a tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler, are highly complex. They require regular maintenance by highly skilled mechanics or they will literally fall apart. When brake components weighing several hundred pounds are jettisoned from a truck traveling at 70 miles an hour the results can be deadly. Loose on the highway, truck brakes can crash through the windshield of a car traveling behind the truck. If they are flung into oncoming traffic, they can tear a car in half.

Also, total brake system failures are rare in trucking accidents. Most often, it is brake deficiency that is the cause of a truck accident. The truck can stop but it takes longer to do so had the braking system been properly maintained. This is why so many rear-end truck collisions occur. Often times, at a truck collision, the truck driver will say “the brakes just gave way” tying to shift fault from him to the brakes but, once agin, this is from bad, deficient or negligent maintenance.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Los Angeles truck accident lawyers.

California, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. California metropolitan cities besides Los Angeles with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Antioch, Azusa, Beverly Hills,  Buena Park, Chula Vista and Manhattan Beach to name a few.

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Police said 17-year old Mark Dobbs was pulled over on the shoulder of the freeway when 16-year old Aaron Carrillo and 16-year old John Cervoni pulled over to help him, and that is when the accident occurred.

KFOX-14 News reports:

Dobbs was in the drivers seat of his car, Cervoni was in the passenger seat and Carrillo was standing outside the car when a 32-year old man driving a Toyota Tundra “was driving on the outside east bound shoulder” of the loop when he collided with Dobbs’ car, according to police.

Carrillo died at the scene and Cervoni died at University Medical Center, where Dobbs is recovering.

The driver of the truck is recovering at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, and police said they will book him into El Paso County Jail as soon as he is released. They said alcohol and speed were factors in this crash, and have two warrants for intoxicated manslaughter for the man.

“The last time I saw him was on Wednesday. He was playing with us on Wednesday,” David Hernandez, 19, said of Carrillo. “He was taking my soda, and I was taking his fries and it was fun, you know. He was always a happy person.”

Hernandez plays keyboard in a church youth band at Abundant Living Faith Center called Worship Team. He told KFOX-14′s Jacob Rascon that Carrillo played guitar in the group, and on Sunday would have performed with it as its lead guitarist.

The incident remains under investigation.

Comments:

Walking away from a DWI accident with bumps and bruises is rare and one’s life is can be forever changed because of a drunk driver’s bad decision or addiction.

The State of Texas has strict laws for drunk driving, and prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by drivers with a .08 percent or above blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The .08 limit is used across the United States as the benchmark for the “impaired” driver. Texas has lower limits in place for commercial drivers (.04) and for drivers under the age of 21 (.02). The Texas DWI law also makes it illegal to drive while under the influence of controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.

The first time you are arrested in the State of Texas for drunk driving you will receive a fine up to $2,000. You will also be confined to jail for no less than 72 hours and no more than 180 days. Your drivers license will be suspended for no less than 90 days and no more than 1 year. You may also be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on the vehicle at your own expense.

The second time you are arrested and convicted of a DWI in Texas you will be fined up to $4,000. You will also serve a minimum of 30 days in jail up to 1 year. Your drivers license will be suspended for a minimum of 6 months or up to 2 years. You may also be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on the vehicle at your own expense.

The 3rd conviction for a DWI in Texas is considered a 3rd degree felony. You will be fined up to $10,000 and serve no less than 2 years or up to 10 years in the penitentiary. Your drivers license will also be suspended up to 2 years. You may also be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on the vehicle at your own expense.

Source: Texas DUI Driving Laws

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer and personal injury blog that publishes up to date truck accident and truck legal news from across the United States. Texas, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of truck accidents. Metropolitan cities besides El Paso with a high incident of DWI accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Arlington, Dallas and Ft Worth to name a few.

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Amtrak’s California Zephyr was en route from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., with some 200 passengers and 14 crew members when the accident occurred late Friday morning about 300 miles east of its destination.

The truck driver has been identified as 43-year-old Lawrence Ruben Valli and published reports suggest Valli had six moving violations since 2008; including three tickets for speeding while driving a school bus in Lake Tahoe. There was a speeding ticket while driving an 18 wheeler rig in Alabama; and tickets in California for not wearing a seat belt and talking on a cell phone.

WATCH VIDEO:

Valli’s cell phone was obtained by investigators who have sent it to a lab in Washington, D.C. for analysis.

”The tractor remains imbedded in the side of the rail car,” the NTSB’s Earl Weener told reporters during a news conference Monday night. The big rig involved in the accident was longer and heavier than the law normally allows. But the company, John Davis Trucking, got a waiver that put a truck and two trailers on the road that weighed almost 50,000 pounds.

FOX40 News reports:

The NTSB may have also uncovered an explanation for the fireball that followed the crash.  ”We are working to understand the amount of fuel that was in the two saddle tanks.  The tanks had a maximum capacity of 110 gallons each,” Weener says.

Federal officials are also rebuilding the crossing signal in an effort to determine how far away the flashing lights can be seen.  The crossing arm reportedly drops 25 seconds before the train passes.  But an onboard camera and data recorder only confirm the crossing signal was working.  ”The horn and bell are in use prior to and through the crossing.   The crossing gates are shown to be in the down position as the train approaches and passes.”

It’s not known how fast the truck was moving, but the speed limit on Highway 95 is 70 miles an hour.  The NTSB couldn’t say how long it would take a truck like that to stop. But some estimates indicate at least 300 feet; and skid marks suggest the truck may have traveled farther than that.  ”That video shows the weather to be clear, visibility to be unrestricted, no sight obstructions in the area near the crossing.”

Investigators have asked John Davis Trucking for all the background information they have on Valli.  That will include driving violations, employment records and medical history.  The Nevada Highway Patrol has already supplied what it has including medical information according to Weener.

For some unknown reason Valli lost his Nevada drivers license sometime between 2002 and 2005; only to obtain a commercial drivers license in October of 2009.

The NTSB expects to remain at the crash site for another week, with a preliminary report due in about 30 days.

Comments:

Truck accident lawyers, Gordon, Elias & Seely say that there is tremendous difference in size and weight between trucks or 18 wheelers and automobiles often result in death or permanent and serious personal injuries. A big rig or 18 wheeler usually weighs in excess of 80,000 pounds and the tractor trailer combination may be over 70 feet long, therefore, its stopping distance takes far longer than a car. Too often, catastrophic and fatal accidents are caused by the negligence of the truck driver, evidenced by:

• Inattentiveness to construction zone signs or changes in traffic
• Driver distractions
• Following too closely
• Other human errors [fatigue, drunk driving, DUI, etc.]

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident attorney directory that also reports on up to date truck accidents across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, consult with an expert who knows the trucking laws for each state. Find information about California truck accident lawyers.
Metropolitan cities with a high incident of big rig, semi truck and 18 wheeler accidents include Chesterfield, Irvine, Long Beach, University City, Riverside and San Diego to name a few.

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The crash occurred in the early morning at about 6:42 a.m. closing the connector from the northbound 605 Freeway.

The accident closed all but one lane during the middle of rush hour and backed traffic up for more than a mile, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Ambulances arrived on the scene, but there were no news of any injuries reported at that time.

Crews were working to clear the area so traffic could resume.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find more information about California truck accident lawyers.

California cities near Baldwin Park with a high incident of 18 wheeler accidents include Bellflower, Compton and El Monte to name a few.

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Workers try to clear wreck on I-20 n McDuffie County. Garth Snow/McDuff Mirror Staff

Thomson traffic piled up in the morning commute as traffic from the accident was diverted. The city of Thomson is located about 33 miles southwest of Augusta. Emergency and cleanup crews arrived on the scene in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 at about the 165-mile marker around 7 a.m.

Source McDuff Mirror

Georgia State Patrol Trooper First Class Ben Rollins said there were no serious injuries, “believe it or not.” Eastbound traffic was diverted to Georgia Highway 80 at the Camak-Warrenton exit. The interstate was cleared about 8:30 a.m., according to the Georgia State Patrol post in Grovetown.

Jon Clements drove the panel truck owned by Augusta Delivery Service. He suffered a minor head injury.

Company safety director Vernon Collins, who also is Columbia County coroner, said Clements would have been ejected from the truck if he had not been wearing his seat belt.

“It’s a miracle he wasn’t killed,” Collins said.

Junior Henry, the driver of the Reinhart Food Service tractor-trailer from Austenn, Ga., said he had a headache after the wreck. Diverted traffic stacked up in Thomson during the morning drive

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find more information about Georgia truck accident lawyers.

Georgia cities with a high incident of 18 wheeler accidents include Atlanta, Athens, August and Savannah Georgia to name a few.

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During the Monday afternoon commuter rush, truck driver Dan Thompson was driving a semi trailer truck through southeast Texas. Mr. Thompson reportedly has been driving large commercial trucks for over 37 years. The driver was carrying a cargo of approximately 40,000 pounds of aluminum scraps in cube form when the truck accident occurred. The cubes are roughly the size of 1 ½ foot squares. The cab section had the logo for LMT Trucking.

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At about 6:00 p.m. Monday evening the driver was near the border between San Patricio and Nueces Counties on the outer edge of the Corpus Christi metro region. The tractor trailer was on U.S. Highway 77 approaching the intersection with Interstate 37 when the single vehicle crash happened. According to the driver’s account of the truck accident, he was rounding a curve on the flyover ramp of the highway, going about 35 MPH. The cargo of aluminum scrap inside the trailer section suddenly shifted to one side, throwing the 18 wheeler off balance. The semi truck rocked and tipped before crashing over onto its right, passenger side. The driver was momentarily trapped inside the cab section of the 18 wheeler.

Motorists around the flipped tractor trailer were able to maneuver around the semi and no other vehicles or persons were involved in the truck accident.

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Area rescue teams rushed to the scene of the rollover crash. The semi driver was able to crawl out of the overturned cab section and was not injured in the truck accident.

The trailer section broke open during the collision and an unknown amount of the 40,000 pounds of aluminum scrap spilled out onto the highway. The flipped tractor trailer was partially blocking the traffic lanes on the highway flyover and interfering with the Monday evening traffic, forcing police to shut down a section of U.S.77 around the site of the truck accident. The closures caused some delays as it came in the middle of the commuter rush.

A highway crew brought a heavy duty wrecker and front loaders to the crash site and began to work on getting the disabled 18 wheeler off the highway. The massive weight of the aluminum cargo made it difficult to get the semi trailer back up on its wheels, and the crew would spend several hours unloading the aluminum cubes through the slashed side of the trailer section. When the trailer was empty they hauled the wreckage from the site of the truck accident.

Police conducted a reconstruction of the rollover crash and talked to the driver, Mr. Thompson. The driver allegedly stated that the cargo was not “nailed down” or restrained in any manner, and shifted when he slowly took the curve on the highway. Police have not stated whether they will charge the semi driver with failure to properly secure the cargo load.

The truck accident remains under investigation.

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On Tuesday morning 42 year old Ezekwesiri Emmanuel Arukwe of Dallas, Texas was driving a semi trailer truck through Alleghany County, PA, headed north on Pennsylvania State Route 48. The driver was hauling several thousand pounds of steel pipes on the flatbed trailer section of his truck. At the time of the truck accident the driver was working for Builders Transportation Company, LLC, which is based out of Memphis, Tennessee.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning the truck driver had reached North Versailles Township, on the southeast edge of the Pittsburgh metro area. Mr. Arukwe was still on northbound Rt. 48, known locally as Mosside Boulevard. The truck accident occurred on a section of the road just south of the Mosside Bridge, which crosses over the Youghiogheny River.

When the semi trailer reached the juncture with Wall Street the traffic signal for Rt. 48/Mosside Blvd was red, and traffic on Wall Street had the right of way. Mr. Arukwe went through the signal and barreled into the intersection, where he sideswiped an eastbound tractor trailer turning left onto northbound Rt. 48/Mosside Blvd. Mr. Arukwe then slammed head-on in to a box truck which was stopped in the southbound lanes of Rt. 48 on the Mosside Bridge. The force of the truck accident pushed the box truck about 150 feet down the road. Another truck behind the box truck kept the vehicles from falling over the bridge and into the river.

Alleghany County police and rescue personnel rushed to the site of the three vehicle crash. The driver of the box truck, who was identified as 55 year old Kenneth Feldman of New Kensington, PA, was fatally injured in the truck accident and died at the scene. The passenger in the box truck, who has not been identified, received unspecified minor injuries in the crash. The passenger was treated and stabilized at the site and then transported to a nearby hospital.

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Mr. Arukwe and the unidentified truck driver of the second tractor trailer were not injured in the truck accident.

North Versailles Police officers were also at the scene of the deadly crash and reportedly talked to the semi driver. According to them Mr. Arukwe claims that the brakes on the semi flatbed truck failed and he was unable to keep from entering the intersection. He allegedly was trying to swerve to avoid the second tractor trailer when he crossed into the southbound lanes and hit the smaller box car, killing Mr. Feldman.

A team from C&D Towing and Recovery, based in McKeesport, PA, were at the crash site clearing the debris from the traffic lanes. The intersection would remain closed for most of the day while the team worked. The Mosside Bridge reopened at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening, more than seven hours after the truck accident.

Police conducted a reconstruction of the deadly truck accident. They are also reviewing video of the crash, taken by a surveillance camera mounted on a nearby trucking business and aimed at the intersection. According to the North Versailles Police, the two semi trailers and the box truck involved in Tuesday’s crash will be taken to an indoor facility where they will undergo complete inspections. These inspections should reveal if the brakes on Mr. Arukwe’s semi flatbed did fail, and if there were any other mechanical problems.

At this point Mr. Arukwe has been charged with Homicide by Vehicle, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Involuntary Manslaughter, in addition to several traffic violations.

The driver could face additional charges once police conclude their investigation of the truck accident.