A multiple-vehicle pileup involving two big rigs and a pickup truck led to the death of four people outside Lordsburg on a recent Sunday. Large truck crashes, especially those involving fatalities, have been on a steady rise over the last decade, and the latest statistics demonstrate that the problem is only getting worse. Read on for more about this most recent truck crash, and contact a seasoned Las Cruces truck accident attorney at 575-541-3004 if you’ve been injured by a negligent or reckless driver in southern New Mexico.
Big rig crash in Lordsburg leads to multiple fatalities
New Mexico State Police responded to reports of a head-on collision on Interstate 10 near Lordsburg at around 3:30 p.m. on a recent Sunday. According to officials, a 2015 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling east on I-10 when it swerved across the median and hit a westbound 2013 Kenworth semi-truck head-on. The Freightliner’s trailer swung and hit a 1999 Dodge pickup truck, also heading west. Both semi-trucks caught on fire as a result of the collision.
The crash claimed the lives of four people: The Freightliner’s driver, a 50-year-old California man; the Kenworth’s driver, a 47-year-old Texas man; the driver of the Dodge, a 51-year-old Arizona man; and a passenger in the Dodge, a 47-year-old Arizona woman. Three of the participants were pronounced dead at the scene while the driver of the Dodge died several days later from his injuries. A 13-year-old girl who was also a passenger in the Dodge suffered critical injuries. Officials have not determined what caused the Freightliner to swerve into oncoming traffic.
Large trucks continue to present deadly danger on U.S. roadways
We have previously discussed how trucking companies are not doing enough to reduce the rate and lethality of large truck crashes across the country. The latest statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) show that the trend is continuing. The rate of fatal truck crashes has been on the rise since hitting a low of 3,193 in 2009. In 2016, the number jumped past 4,000 to 4,116, and the newly-released figures show that 2017 was even worse: There were 4,455 fatal truck crashes in 2017, a 10% jump from 2016. Of the 4,761 people who were killed in large truck crashes in 2017, 70 were killed in New Mexico crashes. Trucking companies and truck drivers must be held liable if their negligence or lax safety standards lead to the death or injury of other motorists on New Mexico roadways.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a large truck crash or other accident in New Mexico, contact the experienced and passionate Las Cruces personal injury lawyer Samuel I. Kane for a free consultation on your case at 575-541-3004.