There are countless risks for drivers cruising the roadways at night when it is dark. Though there are typically fewer vehicles on the road at this time, Missouri highways are no less dangerous than busy daytime travel hours. If anything, the night presents its own dangers for drivers, and truck accidents during these hours are typically unfortunate tragedies.

On a recent Tuesday in Webster County, a pickup truck heading east, driven by a 48-year-old male, ran out of gas shortly after 2 a.m. He pulled off the right side of the road onto the shoulder. It wasn’t long before a tractor trailer heading eastbound ran into the back of the parked pickup truck, causing the tractor trailer to veer off, crash through the cable median and into the westbound lanes, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 

Unfortunately a semi truck driven by a 52-year-old man was traveling in the westbound lanes at this moment, and the semi collided with the tractor trailer. The semi-truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The tractor-trailer driver was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries, and the driver of the pickup truck was not injured. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, all drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Unfortunately, truck accidents are all too common occurrences on Missouri roadways. In this instance, the westbound trucker appears to have been an innocent victim. While his family is likely entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits, a wrongful death claim may also be an appropriate legal remedy. This type of civil court claim is appropriate when the negligence of another party or parties results in the death of the victim. 

Source: ky3.com, “4-truck crash in Webster County killed man from Illinois”, Gene Hartley, July 14, 2015