Truck Driver Taken in for Train Crash
A truck crash can be pretty darn scary. A wrong way turn can take bad turn pretty quickly.
A commercial truck driver ended up taking a wrong turn one day and ended up being stopped on a set of railroad tracks. Him being on the train tracks caused a crash with a commuter train. Now the man will be charged with the suspicion of a felony hit and run, according to the local police. Bet that man was the scared-est that he’s ever been.
The Oxnard Assistant Police Chief, Jason Benites has stated that the man is a fifty-four year old man from Yuma, Arizona.
Chief Benites also said that the mans name is Jose Alejandro Sanchez Ramirez. Ramirez abandoned a commercial truck on the train tracks. He was later found 1 1/2 miles away from the scene, and understandably in distress.
Chief Benites also said that the truck had drove for a short time on the track and was facing the train head on when the crash happened. There were three people who were in critical condition due to their injuries they recieved during the crash.
Part of the report from the National Transportation Safety Board, said that at the crash site the truck was actually not stuck or bottomed-out, as it was earlier reported.
NTSB member, Robert Sumwalt said that the truck was wrecked so badly that the emergency brake was in the on positions and the headlight switch was in the high beam position.
Truck Crash Involving a Train
According to the local reports, the Ventura County Line Train 102 had forty-nine people on board. The train had left Oxnard and was heading to Camarillo and eventually to the Los Angeles Union Station. The crash happened right before six o’clock in the morning.
The truck exploded into flames and three of the Metrolink rail cars were derailed and ended up being toppled over. At least one of the other rail cars also derailed, but it stayed up right.
Twenty eight people had to be transported to local hospitals to be treated for their injuries. People were treated for “significant head trauma” to back and neck injuries. Then the other eight had to be admitted and four of those eight were in critical condition. Twenty-three people declined medical transport.
Police say that the driver of the commercial had not been charged. Police are still trying to figure out why he left the scene.
Los Angeles Truck Accident Causes
For over a decade it has been widely accepted by the National Transportation Safety Board that driver fatigue – an entirely preventable condition – is the leading cause of truck-related accidents. Often incentivized by trucking companies to cut delivery times down by foregoing necessary sleep, a truck driver’s ability to safely operate their machinery is greatly diminished and the probability of falling asleep at the wheel is increased significantly. In addition to fatigue, many drivers suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when the airway is partially or fully blocked during sleep and the sleeping pattern is continuously disrupted. This can result in a loss of oxygen to the brain and an impairment of reaction rates, focus and overall ability to drive safely. To maintain the fastest delivery times, truck operators have been known to rely on narcotics and prescription medications to assist them in staying awake, however side effects from these drugs can have adverse effects, resulting in impaired driving and occasional accidents. Collisions with large truck and trailer rigs traveling at top speeds can be devastating and may cause significant damage and injury to involved parties, and there are a host of recognized accident causes that make an already dangerous scenario potentially fatal.
National Transportation Safety Board – Recognized Accident Causes
With so many potential contributing factors that may be responsible for a trucking accident, it is important to understand the underlying cause of your incident. Our attorneys are highly skilled in the analysis of National Transportation Safety Board recognized truck accident causes, such as:
Insufficient Driver Training: May result in a collision based on a new truck operator’s lack of exposure to driving hazards when a commercial company does not take the time to sufficiently train and educate them to uphold the highest safety measures on the road.
Driver Fatigue: Creates a volatile situation when you combine drowsiness and nodding off at the wheel in a massive piece of machinery traveling at high speeds.
Excessive Speeding: Lessens a driver’s reaction time to respond to road hazards and other drivers.
Overloaded Trucks: May create an unstable load that is more prone to roll over accidents
Brake Failure: Makes it difficult or impossible to slow a heavy load safely, potentially resulting in a serious accident.
Poor Driving Conditions such as a Snow and Ice: May cause large truck and trailer rigs to slide out of control, careening off of embankments or into other vehicles.
Inexperienced Drivers: May result in a collision based on a new truck operator’s lack of exposure to driving hazards when a commercial company does not take the time to sufficiently train and educate them to uphold the highest safety measures on the road.
Failure to Follow Posted Traffic Signage: Creates dangerous driving situations such as ignoring “one way” indications that may result in collisions with oncoming traffic.
Driving Under the Influence of an Illegal Substance: Is highly illegal and responsible for the severe impairment of judgment and ability to safely operate machinery.
Reckless Driving: While operating a large truck and trailer is unsafe for the driver and other motorists based on the sheer size and mass of the rig.
Aggressive Driving: While operating a large truck and trailer is unsafe for the driver and other motorists based on the sheer size and mass of the rig.
Defective Parts and Equipment: May result in a malfunctioning of the truck and trailer, such as a tire blow out that can cause a truck to roll over based on it being rendered unstable.
Insufficient Truck Maintenance or Mechanical Failure: May cause the truck to become unstable, removing the integrity of its foundation and functionality.
Impaired Vision from Night Driving: Makes it difficult for drivers to recognize potential road hazards and conditions.
SPEAK TO A SKILLED TRUCK INJURY ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TODAY
With over 12 years of experience in specifically dealing with Truck Injury Accidents within the state of California, the attorneys at the DAG Law Firm – California Truck Injury Attorneys – are committed to providing you with the exceptional legal services you need to obtain just compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at (855) 701-0003 for a free consultation with one of our California Truck Injury Attorneys.
Daniel A. Gibalevich
DAG Law Firm
