Truck accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries, which is one of the many reasons why the trucking industry is carefully regulated.

Drivers are expected to spend many hours behind the wheel and very often get little sleep. Operating such enormous vehicles containing hazardous and heavy cargo is a big responsibility. These trucks have major blind spots, cannot brake or stop as quickly as passenger vehicles in the event of an emergency or obstruction in the roadway, are usually traveling at high speeds, and if not loaded correctly can potentially roll over.

Adding all of these factors up can be a recipe for disaster if drivers are not paying enough attention. In 2009 a tractor trailer crash in Oklahoma killed 10 people because the truck driver was inattentive.

The June 26, 2009 crash happened on the Will Rogers Turnpike. The truck driver, Donald L. Creed, 76, of Willard, Missouri, slammed his rig into a line of vehicles that had stopped because of a crash further up the road.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported that Creed had not even braked or attempted to steer away from the line of vehicles. An investigation turned up no problems with the brakes or steering of the tractor trailer. It appeared as though the driver had been using his cruise control and was not paying enough attention to the road. Investigators determined that his vehicle had been driving at a steady 69.5 to 71 mph for the 4.5 minutes prior to the crash.

Creed remained in his vehicle after the accident and asked troopers if he had hit someone.

According to Missouri authorities, Creed had obtained his commercial driver’s license in 1991 and has had a clean driving record ever since. The license had been renewed the April before the crash.
Authorities attempted to determine what physical condition Creed had been in before the crash but his attorney advised him to decline interview requests. However, they were able to determine that Creed had worked for ten straight hours before the crash. But this did not exceed the federal limit.

He did not appear to have any problems with his vision and he was able to walk and negotiate turns. He was not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There were no visual obstructions preventing him from seeing the vehicles in front of his truck. But he told investigators that he was parked and the cars had driven underneath him.

There were ten people killed in the crash: Shelby Hayes, 35, of Frisco, Texas; her husband, Randall Hayes, 38; their son, Ethan Hayes, 7; and Shelby Hayes’ mother, Cynthia Olson, 55, of Crossroads, Texas.
There were other victims as well, including Oral Hooks, 69, Earlene Hooks, 63, Antonio Hooks, 42, and Dione Hooks, 41, all of Oklahoma City; and Ricardo Reyes, 39, and Ernestia Reyes, both of Phoenix. And Andrea, the Reyes’ 12 year old daughter was injured in the accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by the negligent actions of a truck driver, contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. If a truck accident case is going to be successfully pursued, taking fast action is necessary. Investigating and uncovering evidence should happen immediately, as trucking companies will sometimes destroy

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