When it comes to highway collisions, a standard car is no match for a tractor-trailer weighing in at 40 tons. This is why Indiana drivers rely on commercial truck drivers to be responsible, stay vigilant of their surroundings and comply with laws designed to keep motorists safe. These regulations include such things as maintaining reasonable working hours, getting enough off-duty time and obeying speed limits.
However, these rules are often ignored and can cause a great deal of harm to others on the road. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers operating trucks at unsafe speeds were a leading cause of fatal crashes in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Speeding may also have been a contributor to an Indianapolis incident back in February.
NBC News reports that crash investigators suspect a tanker truck driver was speeding just before the trailer overturned and caught fire. The tank, which was hauling thousands of gallons of aviation fuel, reportedly ruptured after the semi struck a guardrail on the interstate ramp and tipped over. The collision apparently sparked explosions that, when combined with the fuel, ignited the overpass. The driver survived and was taken to the hospital, according to NBC, although there are currently no further updates.
Although the only reported casualty in this crash was the operator of the semi, many other collisions involve innocent victims that do not usually fare well in the match. People who have suffered losses or injuries due to this type of incident may find that consulting an attorney could help hold the responsible parties accountable for their deeds.