On Wednesday afternoon, a fatal wreck involving a semi truck took the life of a 68-year-old Vernon resident.
The three-vehicle crash happened on Central Freeway on the Lloyd Ruby Overpass. According to KFDX News Channel Three, a Chevy S10 pickup truck stalled out in the center lane of the roadway. The S10 driver’s wife was also traveling on Central Freeway in a Chevy Cavalier. She pulled up behind her husband’s stalled vehicle and turned her hazard lights on, in efforts to warn oncoming traffic.
Sadly, a semi truck slammed into the back of the Cavalier, which then struck the S10. Roberta Gidney, 68-years-old of Vernon, was killed in the crash. She was still inside of her car at the time of the impact. Her husband was out of his truck and directing traffic when the semi-truck crashed into the car. According to KFDX News, he was able to move to safety when the collision happened. Initial reports also indicate that there was a dog inside of the Cavalier, and was alive when he was transported from the scene by the humane society.
Under Investigation
At this time, there’s no word on why the semi truck slammed into the Cavalier. Could it have been a case of distracted driving? Was the driver of the 18-wheeler speeding? As of yesterday afternoon, Officer Jeff Hughes with the Wichita Falls Police Department said that the crash was still under investigation. The roadway was closed and traffic had to be diverted, so investigators and crews could work the scene.
Wrecks Involving Semi Trucks
Crashes involving semi trucks can be incredibly complex, because of the many commercial trucking regulations involved. When 18-wheelers are involved in crashes, a variety of rules and regulations have to be considered. In addition to the traditional rules of the road and traffic laws, commercial truckers have an additional set of regulations to follow.
In some cases, it isn’t just the driver’s actions that have to be analyzed, but the commercial trucking company’s actions too. There are special regulations for a variety of different types of cargo too. Volatile chemicals and other dangerous loads have to be transported carefully to ensure public safety. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can help families get to the bottom of crashes involving semi trucks. The team at the Altman Legal Group sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Roberta Gidney.