10-Year-Old Dies in East Hempfield Township Tractor-trailer Crash

A crash involving a tractor-trailer and Ford Taurus resulted in the death of a 10-year-old girl and another injured person in East Hempfield Township.

According to East Hempfield Township police, the car was driving west on Lilitz Road when it was struck by a car-carrier truck heading south at the intersection of Lilitz and Lancaster.

Law enforcement pronounced the girl at the scene. The injured party was trapped inside of the vehicle and was not responsive or breathing. Police said they are not releasing the names of the injured party or the deceased girl.

The crash shut down Route 72 at Root and Graystone Roads.

The most recent crash occurred less than two miles from the location of the May 22nd tractor-trailer accident that killed a Mount Joy brother and sister. Following that incident, the father of the victims called for changes to the area, including a longer traffic light.

There are ongoing dangerous traffic issues in the area.

There was an October 2021 crash a half a mile from the most recent crash. That incident involved a Warwick Township public works vehicle. The vehicle was stopped at a stop sign when a motorcycle and another vehicle collided with it. The 21-year-old driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tractor-trailer Crashes Have a Higher Fatality Rate

All automobile accidents can have catastrophic consequences. However, tractor-trailer accidents tend to cause the most serious damage to those involved. Statistics show that, on average, close to a dozen people die each day on the nation’s roadways in accidents involving tractor-trailers.

These accidents kill thousands of people each year.

And sadly, most of them involve mistakes that are within someone’s ability to control. In other words, they could have been avoided.

What should you do if you or a loved one is involved in a tractor-trailer crash?

The first thing you should do is contact emergency services and seek medical attention.

In the days and weeks following the incident, you’ll want to reach out to an attorney. Tractor-trailer crashes involve commercial vehicles. There are laws governing the use of these vehicles and in many cases, these laws provide additional protection if you’re injured in a crash.

An experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney understands these laws and can help you deal with your specific situation.

If you or a loved one was injured in a tractor-trailer crash, we can help. For more information or to discuss your situation, contact Heavens Law at 484-467-8254. All phone consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation beyond that.