Tractor Trailer Accident on I-77 Leaves One Dead

The driver of a tractor trailer has died after his vehicle was involved in a crash on Interstate 77. The accident occurred in the very early morning hours near mile marker 41, just prior to the I-77/I-64 split.

According to Cpl. C.K. Morton, with the West Virginia State Police Turnpike detachment, “A flatbed truck overturned in the median spilling its load of industrial metal parts.”

There was another vehicle traveling nearby that hit a piece of the spilled metal, which resulted in a second accident. That driver was transported to the local hospital, but police have not given an update on the condition of that driver.

The driver of the tractor trailer involved in the initial accident, a man from Hubbard, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident had originally been reported to police as a tractor trailer fire, and there was evidence the truck did catch fire after the accident, but the impact of the crash was the initial cause and the fire was an outcome of that crash.

According to Morton, the cause of the crash is not yet officially known and is under investigation.

Have You Been Injured in a Tractor Trailer Crash?

Thousands of people die in accidents involving semi and tractor trailer trucks every year. Nearly every one of these accidents results in at least one fatality, due in part to the size and weight of these vehicles, and because of the fire and explosion hazards many of these vehicles have.

As demonstrated in the recent accident on I-77, tractor trailer accidents are often the cause of secondary collisions. Tractor trailer trucks frequently haul big loads and when a crash occurs, these materials can spill out onto the highway and create hazards. Often, these spills present secondary, even more dangerous hazards, especially when the loads are flammable.

What Should You Do After Tractor Trailer Accident?

If you or a loved one is injured, or worse, in a tractor trailer accident, you could have the right to take legal action. This is true whether you are the driver of a vehicle or a passenger in a vehicle that collides with a tractor trailer, or the driver of the tractor trailer.

If you’ve been injured in a car crash or you’ve lost a loved one who was involved in a wreck, we can help. For more information or to speak to someone about compensation that might be available after a vehicle collision, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377.