Four People Die in Two North Carolina Tractor-Trailer Crashes on Highway 421
Four people died in North Carolina’s mountain area in two separate motor vehicle crashes involving tractor-trailers on Highway 421.
In the October 26 crash, one woman and two men died were killed on Hwy. 421 west of Wilkesboro, North Carolina after the Chevy Avalanche they were riding in was involved in a motor vehicle collision with a tractor-trailer. The names of the victims are Thomas Cameron Simon, Mary E. Wiggins, and George Wesley Wiggins. Another injury victim, Cheryle Cotter Simon, was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. As of October 30, she was reportedly in critical condition.
According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, tractor-trailer driver Curtis Isaac crossed the center line before his tractor-trailer overturned and struck the Chevy driven by Thomas Cameron Simon. On October 29 in Wilkes County, Mondy was charged with three counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle and reckless driving.
On October 29, another deadly accident involving a tractor-trailer and several motor vehicles occurred on Highway 421 between Zionville and Villas. The multi-vehicle collision occurred because a car driver fell asleep at the wheel. One person died in the fatal collision. Locals consider this area of the highway to be particularly dangerous—and many motor vehicle accidents involving people unfamiliar with the area occur on this section of the road.
Tractor-trailers and large trucks involved in serious motor vehicle accidents can lead to fatalities and serious personal injuries. Trucks are large in size and can be very heavy-especially if they are fully loaded with heavy machinery or other materials. A tractor-trailer or other large truck driving over the speed limit can be deadly
The US Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have released preliminary national large truck crash statistics for 2006, including:
• 12,494 large trucks were involved in truck accidents where there were no fatalities
• 81,312 truck crashes resulted in people sustaining injuries
• 75,390 large trucks resulted in towaway cashes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration holds truck drivers to specific safety driving standards and truck accidents are more challenging to prove than regular motor vehicle accidents, which is why you should hire an experienced North Carolina truck accident attorney who is familiar with the way truck companies and their insurers handle injury cases.
Two North Carolina Tractor Trailer Accidents Cause Fatalities, Associated Content, October 30, 2007
2006 National Large Truck Crash Facts, Crash Statistics
Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Truck Accident Statistics, StatsSheet.com
In North Carolina and South Carolina, the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo LLP represents truck accident injury victims and families who have lost a loved one because of negligent or reckless drivers.
Contact the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo LLP today and ask for your free consultation.
