Two California big rig accidents this month left two dead and another injured. A 23-year-old woman was killed this week when a piece of debris from a big rig hit her car and forced her off the road. The truck accident is still under investigation, as the truck driver did not remain at the scene following the wreck.
Earlier this month, a Riverside County truck accident left an Oregon woman dead and another person with injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
23-Year-Old Mendocino County Woman Killed in California Truck Crash
July 20, 2016
A 23-year-old Mendocino County woman was killed on Wednesday after her car was struck by brake parts that flew off of a big rig. The fatal crash happened on July 20 on the northbound side of Highway 101 outside of Ukiah.
According to officials from the California Highway Patrol, Sugey Garcia of Willits was driving her 2014 Subaru Impreza behind a big rig when at least one airborne object from the truck struck her vehicle. The impact forced Garcia to drive across oncoming traffic and over the opposite side of the highway. After leaving the roadway, Garcia’s car narrowly missed a few trees, then went down a steep embankment, where it came to rest. After being extricated from her vehicle, Garcia was rushed to Ukiah Valley Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators initially thought the debris from the big rig might have been a piece of scrap metal or other cargo. After further inspection, officials said the debris was most likely a piece of the big rig’s brake assembly from the trailer.
California Highway Patrol officer Kylar Adams told the Press Democrat that it is possible the truck driver may not have noticed that the debris flew off of the truck, as the driver did not stop immediately following the accident. However, the pieces of debris were fairly large. “We’re talking about football size,” Adams said.
CHP interviewed a number of witnesses following the crash, and are now looking for a white three-axle big rig, possibly a Volvo, hauling a rust-colored trailer. The truck also likely has a wheel or brake drum damage, officials said.
Anyone with information on this accident in Ukiah is encouraged to call the Ukiah CHP office at (707) 467-4000.
One Killed, One Injured in Riverside County Truck Accident
July 6, 2016
An Oregon woman was killed and another person was injured early in the morning on Wednesday, July 6, when a big rig overturned on Interstate 10 in Riverside County, California. The fatal Riverside County truck accident was reported at around 5:40 a.m. on the westbound side of I-10 just east of Highway 111.
According to an official with the California Highway Patrol, the 2011 Kenworth tractor-trailer veered off the road and struck a light pole before overturning. Pictures of the Riverside County truck accident show the vehicle on its roof adjacent to the highway.
A number of news sources have reported that the deceased victim was sleeping unrestrained in the big rig’s sleeper cabin when the truck crash occurred. The victim has been identified by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office as 24-year-old Shyan Barnes of Bandon, Oregon.
The truck driver, who was identified as a 42-year-old male also from Bandon, sustained serious injuries in the Riverside County truck accident. It took emergency responders about an hour to free him from the wreckage, according to the Desert Sun. He was taken by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs for treatment.
Law enforcement officials who responded to the crash have yet to speak to the truck driver. No other vehicles were involved in the incident, and investigators found no skid marks at the scene. At this time, it is unclear why the truck crashed.
Big rig crashes are common on Interstate 10, as it is one of the most heavily traveled roadways in the country. In 2013, about 1.9 million trucks drove I-10. That number ballooned to 2.8 million in 2015—a 37 percent increase in truck traffic.
According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were 15 deadly big rig collisions on I-10 between Coachella and Whitewater 2014. In 2015, the same stretch of I-10 saw 24 fatal big rig crashes.
California Truck Accident Attorney
Any number of factors can lead to a truck accident. Regardless of what caused the crash, it is important that victims of truck accidents understand that they have rights. If you or a loved one has been involved in a California truck crash, contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options.
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