A crash involving a Department of Transportation vehicle brought traffic to a halt on Interstate 485 in northwest Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. Two lanes were shut down around mile marker 14 as a result of the crash, which occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m.
The DOT truck sideswiped a pickup truck, forcing the DOT truck to swerve left, crash into the median, hit a guardrail and overturn. The 56-year-old DOT truck driver suffered non-life threatening injuries. The pickup truck driver was not injured.
All three lanes of the intersection were reopened around 4:45 p.m. after crews cleaned up fuel the spilled onto the highway.
Studies from 2010 reveal that 3,675 people were killed and 80,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks. During that same year, 276,00 large trucks were involved in traffic crashes. Of the fatalities involving large trucks reported in 2010, 76 percent were occupants of other vehicles, 10 percent were non-occupants, and 14 percent were occupants of the large trucks.
Although truck drivers are required to have more skills than the normal driver, the shear size of these vehicles provides reason enough to exercise caution. When you or someone you love has been involved in a serious accident, the Accident Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower can be there to assist you on your path to recovery. We can investigate all aspects of the accident and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us today and speak directly with one of our lawyers at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free. Hire the best accident attorneys with whom you and your loved ones can invest the most confidence.