The North Carolina Highway Patrol stated that the driver of a semi-truck died on June 7 after the truck left the roadway and crashed. The authorities believed that the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the truck accident.
The crash occurred on Interstate 40 in Duplin County near mile marker 367 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. The driver was identified as a 53-year-old man. It was not stated if he died at the scene of the accident or if he was transported to a nearby hospital before being pronounced dead. The man’s 67-year-old male passenger was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
The authorities were still investigating the fatal crash the following day. They believed that falling asleep at the wheel might have been a factor, and troopers stated that there was no evidence that excessive speed or alcohol were involved.
All drivers are responsible for the safety of their passengers and for the others with whom they share the road. If a driver operates his or her vehicle in a negligent manner, such as driving while fatigued, others are put at serious risk for critical or even life-threatening injuries. If a passenger becomes injured, the passenger may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver in order to seek compensation for damages.
In cases where the accused driver did not survive the accident, such as in this case, the injured person can still file the lawsuit against the driver’s estate. For cases in which the at-fault driver was on the job and operating a commercial truck when the crash occurred, the injured party may also be able to file the suit against the trucking company that employed the driver.
Source: WCTI, “Driver of 18-wheeler killed in crash, passenger hurt“, June 09, 2014