A Kentucky state trooper was flung from a bridge along the Interstate and fell 30 feet as a result of truck’s jackknifing in front of the trooper while he was responding to a call. A civilian who was with the trooper and assisting him died after being pinned by the trailer of the jackknifed truck.
According to reports, the trooper and the other victim were searching for animals that were apparently on the Interstate. A private vehicle that had been in the right lane moved left and slowed down very quickly. There were two trucks behind the smaller vehicle, and they both had to move right to avoid rear-ending the private vehicle.
Unfortunately, in the process of changing lanes, the semi-tractor hit the box truck it was following in the rear, causing the box truck to jackknife and, eventually, flip over on the bridge near the trooper and the civilian. The civilian was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, and the trooper was taken to a nearby hospital. His condition was reported as stable following a surgery.
The accident will continue to be investigated, but this tragic story serves as a useful reminder about the importance of truck drivers making sure they have plenty of room to stop or respond in an emergency. It seems in this case that, because of a sudden change in the road conditions, the semi-tractor rear-ended a truck it had been following. Not giving enough following distance can cause serious truck accidents.
In any event, the injured trooper and the family of the man who died should explore whether this accident was caused by either trucker’s negligence and should also consider pursuing compensation for their losses.
Source: Wave 3 News, “I-71 South reopened after deadly accident that injured a KSP trooper,” Charles Gazaway, April 25, 2018.
