One Person Dies in Tractor-trailer Crash on I-81
One of the people involved in a tractor-trailer accident on northbound Interstate 81 has died, according to officials. The crash involved multiple vehicles.
The deceased, Bernardo Charris, 39, of North Carolina, who was the driver of a tractor-trailer, was transported to a nearby hospital after the crash. Charris’s vehicle crashed into three other parked tractor-trailers on the shoulder of the highway near a rest stop.
The accident shutdown all northbound lanes of I-81.
Tractor-trailer Accidents among the Most Deadly on Nation’s Highways
Tractor-trailers are two-part vehicles comprised of the semi-truck section at the front and the trailer section that’s hauled by the semi. Fully loaded tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and be up to 80 feet long plus the truck cab.These are huge, heavy vehicles, which is a significant part of why accidents involving these vehicles are so catastrophic.
There are millions of tractor-trailers on the road in the United States. They travel billions of miles every year across the country. It’s very rare that someone would travel on a section of highway at any given time without seeing a tractor-trailer.
It’s important to note that the dangers associated with tractor-trailer accidents go beyond their size. Additional risks are created by the design and mechanics of the vehicles, as well as the drivers. Tractor-trailers:
- Traveling at 65 miles per hour takes the length of two football fields to stop. This distance is more than twice as far as it would take a mid-size car to stop at the same speed.
- Have far more blind spots than the average vehicle. The front blind spot extends up to 20 feet in front of the cab. The rear blind spot is even larger at 30 feet. There are also limited views on each side. If you are traveling behind a tractor-trailer and you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
Thousands of trucks are involved in fatal accidents every year. These accidents occur for a variety of reasons but tend to result in worse injuries and deaths more often than accidents not involving large vehicles. Involvement in even a mild fender bender with a tractor-trailer can leave you with devastating injuries.
If you or a loved one were involved in a tractor-trailer accident, whether you were the driver of the truck or another vehicle, we can help. For more information or to discuss your case, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377 to schedule a free consultation.
