Two People Died When Semi-Truck Rear-Ended SUV On The 10 Freeway In Indio
INDIO, CALIFORNIA (January 31, 2023) – Two people were killed in an Indio semi-truck accident on the 10 freeway not far from Hayfield Road.
Riverside County officials are saying that the collision took place around 4:14 a.m. on Monday. A Subaru was involved in a collision with a tractor trailer truck.
The force of the impact caused the Subaru to come to rest in the westbound lanes of traffic. That Subaru was then rear-ended by a second semi-truck.
The SUV burst into flames not long after the second collision. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
Sadly, two people inside of the Subaru died as a result of their injuries. A full investigation into the Indio crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Indio Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can be very difficult to control safely. According to UDOT, “a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds traveling under ideal conditions at a speed of 65 miles per hour will take 525 feet to stop (almost the length of two football fields).” There are a number of factors that could contribute to a semi-truck accident.
- Driver distraction
- Driver fatigue
- Inclement weather
- Poor lighting conditions
Semi-truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any semi-truck driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of travel. There are many steps that should be taken after any truck accident.
- The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Medical records should be preserved.
If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who were performing their job duties. The family of any person that is killed due to the negligent actions of a truck driver may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you now what your rights are.
Investigating A Riverside County Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the families of the people killed in this crash. Any person that may have more information about what happened should speak with investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about an Indio semi-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 any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can contact us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
