18-Wheeler’s Loose Tire Hits, Kills Person
Driving down the freeway can be scary in a lot of ways. You could hit a wayward pedestrian. You could collide with someone who cuts in front of you. You could get stuck in snarling traffic. You could also get hit and killed by loose items.
The last one may seem like an unlikely scenario, but it has happened. In fact, it recently occurred on the Katy Freeway in Houston. The freak accident happened when a tire came loose from an 18-wheeler, hitting a vehicle and killing a passenger. The fatal accident occurred on the evening of April 13 in the westbound lanes of the Katy Freeway, near Blalock.
An 18-wheeler was traveling east on the Katy Freeway when it lost a tire. The tire ended up in the westbound lanes of the freeway. It was bouncing along the road when it hit a KIA SUV that was on the Katy Tollway. The tire demolished the SUV’s windshield, killing the front seat passenger, a 21-year-old man.
The crash caused the driver of the SUV, the victim’s girlfriend, to veer across all six lanes and hit the outside wall. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the 18-wheeler continued driving and did not stop. It’s possible that the driver never realized what happened, as the truck did have 17 other tires. Another possibility is that the loose tire was actually a spare and simply fell off without the driver knowing.
The crash caused all westbound lanes of the Katy Freeway to close for some time.
Dangers of Road Debris
When driving on the road, we not only have to be wary of the actions of others, but also hazardous road conditions. While you may be able to veer out of the way of a pothole, a piece of wood, or a pile of leaves on the road, you may not be able to get out of the way quickly enough when a piece of lumber falls off a truck or onto your car. Or, as what happened in this case, a large object such as a tire could come out of nowhere and hit your vehicle.
Nearly two-thirds of debris-related accidents stem from unsecured loads. Drivers should securely load objects such as appliances, furniture, and lumber with tie-down straps. Even smaller items should be properly secured, as they can move around a vehicle and cause a driver to lose control. The best advice is for drivers to adequately secure every load, every time.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Semi trucks and 18-wheelers can cause accidents in a variety of ways. Sometimes the truck is not even involved in the crash. Debris can fall off the truck and cause other vehicles and occupants to be affected.
If a truck driver or trucking company caused your accident, you need to act quickly. A Houston truck accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can provide you with the legal help you need. We’ll hold the responsible parties liable for your damages. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call 281-347-3247.
Source:
abc13.com/katy-freeway-traffic-crash-passenger-killed-tire-goes-off-18-wheeler/13124819/
