Texas 18 Wheeler-School Bus Accident Leaves Fifteen Students Injured
Just a week after an 18-wheeler driver was arrested for causing a fatal accident with a school bus, another large truck–school bus accident in Jacksonville, Texas left 15 school children injured.
Last week, the driver of an 18-wheeler that crashed into a Marion County School bus last year, was arrested. That driver, Reynaldo Gonzalez, was reportedly using his cell phone just before or during the accident, which left a 13-year-old school girl dead. Ironically enough Jacksonville’s emergency response team is scheduled to stage a disaster drill next month, and the chosen situation is a school bus-truck accident.
This week, according to an 18-wheeler driver, he was driving at a high speed and was unable to stop when a traffic light turned red. The 18-wheeler ended up broadsiding a bus, full of students from Nichols Intermediate School.
At least 4 students were rushed to the East Texas Medical Center - Jacksonville and a total of 15 students were taken to other hospitals in the area. There were a total of 29 children on the bus, all between ten and twelve years of age. The 18-wheeler driver was ticketed for failure to control speed.
Failure to drive at posted speed limits for tractor trailers - which are lower than speed limits for passenger vehicles - is negligent behavior for the driver of a large truck. In the Jacksonville accident, the 18-wheeler driver was driving at 55 mph. If he had crashed into the bus at that speed, police say the tractor trailer could have torn the bus in half and caused multiple fatalities.
As parents of the children who were injured in the Jacksonville 18-wheeler accident thank their stars their children walked away from the accident with minor injuries, trucking lobbying groups are supporting a new bill. The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act of 2009, which would increase the allowed weight limits on 18-wheelers to up to 97,000 pounds, from the current 80,000 pounds, will put larger, heavier, more dangerous trucks on the road.
Truck Safety
Everyday, truck accident lawyers hear from anxious families and victims across the country who have been severely injured in 18-wheeler accidents, unsure about who to turn to. We do not need larger, heavier trucks on our roads, we simply need to ensure that the existing 18-wheelers on our roads are in good driving condition, that drivers are well trained and screened before they are hired, and that the trucking company takes all steps to ensure that drivers follow safe driving practices.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, a truck accident attorney can help you get back on your feet.
Contact a truck accident lawyer, at Arnold & Itkin LLP you find the answers and resources you need after a truck accident.
Meanwhile, the woman who miraculously escaped injuries, Zoma Ramirez, is undergoing a CT scan to rule out the presence of internal injuries after the accident. The fact that Dynasty Trucking had a similar accident before does not speak well of the company's operating procedures. A complete investigation will reveal more about procedure violations at the company that could have contributed to the 18 wheeler-accident.
Black was shaken, but escaped without any injuries. The trailer's mulch spilled out onto the overpass, covering most of it. Blood alcohol tests were conducted to determine Black’s intoxication levels at the time of accident; he was charged with driving while intoxicated.
According to TxDOT officers at the scene, the presence of cable barriers prevented the bus and the truck from crossing over onto the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 after the crash. If the two vehicles had indeed crossed over into the eastbound lanes they would have, most likely, collided with other vehicles, increasing the number of and severity of injuries.
Clarissa was hit by an 18-wheeler on Highway 44 in San Diego, Texas on the night of February 13th. She, ultimately, died from her injuries. It is still not clear what Clarissa was doing on Highway 44 when she was hit; police are trying to determine if the girl was crossing the road or playing with friends at the time of the accident. It is believed to be more likely that she was walking. Police are looking at a number of possibilities for
He was treated in the hospital and has since been discharged. He faces extensive rehabilitation therapy and is presently unable to walk. Recovery has been extremely painful for Christian, his wife says. The couple has since filed a
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