A recent tractor-trailer mishap on Interstate 35 near downtown Kansas City tied up traffic for hours, in what local ABC affiliate KMBC called “a traffic nightmare.”
The truck managed to stop traffic in all but one lane of northbound I-35 when its trailer bowed, spilling its load across the freeway and bringing the truck to a halt. Northbound traffic, already congested and moving slowly due to construction on the freeway, was slowed to a crawl as the single open lane attempted to sneak past the stopped truck.
The Missouri Department of Transportation immediately began warning drivers to avoid northbound I-35, especially during rush hour, as their crews predicted that cleaning up the truck’s spill would take hours. The Department of Transportation also noted that the truck had stopped in an awkward section of the freeway, where there was “no good way to get him out,” according to Department of Transportation spokesperson Laura Wagner.
No one was injured in the I-35 truck spill. Unfortunately, not all motorists who share the road with large trucks are so lucky. When a driver loses control of a truck or its load, devastating injuries and even death can result. Drivers may lose control for a number of reasons. The driver may be fatigued, distracted, or even impaired by drugs or alcohol. The truck’s brakes may fail because the truck has not been properly maintained or is overloaded. When a truck’s load is not secured properly or is too heavy, it may fall from the vehicle, causing damage and injury to nearby vehicles and their passengers.
When a truck accident in St. Louis is caused by the driver’s negligence, injured victims may be able to seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, long-term care and other damages. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, please contact the experienced Missouri trucking collision attorneys at Page Law to discuss your rights and options. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free case evaluation.
