High School Student Kiarra Gordon (Full Name: Kiarra Alma Gordon), of Wide Ruins, Died In Sanders School Van Accident With Semi-Truck on Interstate 40
SANDERS, ARIZONA (August 29, 2022) – A 17-year-old high school student identified as Kiarra Gordon died in a school van accident with a semi-truck on Interstate 40.
Apache County officials are saying that the collision took place around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Kiarra Gordon was in a school van that was slowing down due to traffic.
That school van was then rear-ended by a semi-truck. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
Four people were taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center with serious injuries. Sadly, Kiarra Gordon died due to the severity of her injuries.
She was an 11th grader at Holbrook Indian School and one of 23 people on the van. The students were on their way to Window Rock for a field trip when the crash took place.
A full investigation into the crash that killed Kiarra Alma Gordon remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Sanders Semi-Truck Accidents
The vast majority of goods that are produced and sold every year in the United States spend some amount of time on semi-trucks. They are essential for the economy, but they can be extremely dangerous for smaller vehicles. According to the IIHS, “In 2020, 4,014 people died in crashes involving large trucks. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were passenger vehicle occupants and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of measures that truck companies should take in order to prevent collisions.
- All semi-truck drivers should be properly licensed and well-trained.
- Semi-trucks should be periodically inspected and properly maintained.
- Semi-trucks can be equipped with safety features such as forward collision avoidance systems.
Fatigued, in particular, is one of the leading causes of semi-truck accidents in the United States. Semi-truck drivers are often put under an enormous amount of pressure to complete their routes as quickly as possible. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. For comparison, a truck driver is considered unfit to drive if they have a BAC of only 0.04%.
All truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid collisions. Many collisions are due to drivers that are speeding or following the lead vehicle too closely. According to Arizona Vehicle Code 28-730, the driver of any motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than would be reasonable and safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane.
If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could 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. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering packages when they were involved in a crash. However, many truck drivers will try to avoid liability for crashes by hiring drivers as “independent contractors.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any truck accident.
- The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed due to the negligence of a truck driver may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, though, truck drivers will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any crash. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
Investigating A Sanders Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kiarra Gordon. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Sanders truck accident? Our team of school 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.
