Al Dantes Jr. Died In L’Anse Car Accident With Intoxicated Truck Driver At Holiday Gas Station —> GoFundMe Created To Help Victim’s Family
L’ANSE, MICHIGAN (October 15, 2022) – An accomplished racer identified as Al Dantes Jr died in a L’Anse car accident with a drunk truck driver at Holiday Gas Station.
Baraga County officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:10 p.m. on Thursday. Al Dantes Jr. was fueling his vehicle when a truck went off US-41 and hit a powerline before crashing into the gas station.
The force of the impact ignited the gas pumps which caused the whole pavilion to catch fire. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the victim.
Al Dantes Jr. was transported to the Baraga County Memorial Hospital with major injuries. Sadly, he died after being taken to the hospital.
He was a well known racer who was about to compete in the Lake Superior Performance Rally over the weekend. Police arrested the truck driver involved in the crash on suspicion of DUI.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time. You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe. He is survived by 6 girls.
Liability For L’Anse DUI Truck Accidents
Drunk driving remains one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States. According to the NHTSA, “Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 45 minutes. In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2019.” Even moderate amounts of alcohol below the legal limit can seriously impair drivers in the following ways.
- Loss of judgement
- Decline in visual functions
- Reduced coordination
- Difficulty steering.
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Pursuant to MCL 257.625, no person shall operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Commercial drivers are held to an even higher standard. It is illegal for any person operating a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle to drive with a BAC of 0.04% or higher. Any person that hits a pedestrian while intoxicated could be considered liable for the collision through the legal doctrine of negligence per se. What many truck driver’s don’t realize is that there are many substances that could potentially impair them besides alcohol.
- Marijuana
- Benzodiazepines
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescriptions
When a truck driver is negligent, the company that they were working for could potentially be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. The company responsible for hiring a truck driver could also be liable for a crash if they failed to properly vet the at-fault driver. There are a number of steps that should be taken after a truck accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Any suspected drunk driver should get a blood test.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The truck driver’s logbook should be examined.
The family of any person that is killed in a truck accident is protected by a number of laws. They have the ability to file a civil claim if that is what they choose. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision. That is why it is so important that all evidence is properly preserved after an accident.
Investigating A L’Anse DUI Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Al Dantes Jr. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a L’Anse truck accident. Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
