Mesa, Washington – Truck Carrying Cars Crashes on Highway 17, Driver Injured

Mesa, Washington (January 2, 2020) – A semi trailer carrying over a dozen crushed cars crashed near milepost 9 of Highway 17 on Thursday morning. According to the report from YakTriNews.com, the driver, who has been identified as Bruce Whiteaker, sustained minor injuries in the incident and was taken to Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco for treatment. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no other injuries have been reported.

Troopers and deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 8:50 a.m. The circumstances of the crash has not been reported but it is believed speed was a factor in the crash. Due to the spilled cars the roadway was blocked for around six hours. The roadway was later reopened around 3 p.m.

About Truck Accidents

The state of Washington’s  2015 Annual Collision Data Summary reported that 6,091 commercial vehicle or heavy trucks were involved in collisions in 2015. These crashes included 38 fatal collisions, 85 serious injury collisions, 1,352 minor injury collisions, 4,565 property damage collisions, and 51 unknown injury collisions. Truck accidents can have many causes, and due to the size and road performance of these vehicles, the involvement of one in an accident can lead to heavy losses. Unlike other vehicles, truck accidents can involve many people other than the driver, such as the owner of the truck, the manufacturer of parts, the company which handles it, and so on and so forth. Truck accidents also have a varied list of causes. Weather and road conditions can play a part in it. There are also of course driver errors, as well as lack of training in operating the truck. Additionally, due to the type of job, both drivers and vehicles can experience fatigue.

Whether operating a truck or seeing one on the road, all drivers must follow regulations to avoid incurring damages and injuries to themselves and people around them. We ask truck drivers to be particularly cautious while driving at night, and to be aware of possible road hazards such as tight turns, rough roads, and fixed objects. While it is  important for all drivers to keep vehicles in good condition, it holds especially true for trucks which carry heavy cargo and make prolonged trips. Doing these steps can ensure the driver’s safety as well as the safety of other people on the road.If you have been the victim of a truck accident, we extend our sympathy and compassion.

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