I-74 is a common daily commute for many in the Danville community. As we all know, a long stretch of this drive is under construction between Bloomington and Peoria. Traffic is slowed in tight quarters often times creating dangerous road conditions. That is exactly what happened earlier this week when a crash ended with a tragic death.
A fatal accident involving two semi-trucks occurred along the construction zone on I-74. This accident took place right by milepost 117 in Woodford County. A semi-trailer had broken down while traveling eastbound on I-74. A second semi, driven by Jeffery Bryant, 48, attempted to pass the broken down semi thinking they had enough room. However, Bryant’s semi struck the other, causing a fire, resulting in the fatality. Traffic lanes on both the westbound and eastbound sides were closed while emergency crews responded to the incident. Traffic was stopped for hours. Police authorities are still investigating what lead to the collision of the two semi-trucks.
Taking extra precautions when driving around semi-trucks is imperative. Leave plenty of space between you and the truck near you. Semi-trucks have air breaks which means the room that they leave is needed to slow the truck down. Never cut directly in front of a truck. When you do this, you are invading the space the driver needs to slow the truck successfully.
Never drive directly next to the trailer. It not only blocks your view of the road but you may be riding right in the trucks blind spot which can be dangerous for both parties involved. If the truck blows a tire, you may be directly in the line of fire if the tire were to exit the truck. If the tire were to hit your car it may cause you to lose control and run off the road.
Never drive directly behind a truck. Many do not realize, but when you do this the driver cannot see you. It not only blocks your entire view of the road, but it makes the chances of running into the rear end of the trailer much greater.
Most importantly, pay extra attention. There are numerous distractions that we can fall victim too while driving. It is imperative to eliminate distractions such as cellphones, loud music, other passengers, or drowsiness. Make sure you are alert and properly prepared to drive whenever you get behind the wheel of an automobile.
In order to stay as safe as possible around trucks, we can keep all of these things in mind but unfortunately, it is impossible to control the actions of others. One small move can lead to a disastrous situation. If you or a loved one have been put in harms’ way because of the reckless actions of a semi-truck driver call a Spiros Law attorney. You may be entitled to compensation for your suffering, medical bills, or lost wages. Let our attorneys fight for the justice you deserve. If you have been involved in a crash and have questions about your situation, call our office at (217) 443-4343 for a free consultation.
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