A Jacksonville, Florida, resident was killed on Sept. 24 after the tow truck he was driving was hit by a tractor-trailer. According to reports, the truck accident happened around 11:45 p.m. between Cecil Commerce Center Parkway and US 301 on Interstate 10. Both vehicles were reportedly moving east when the tractor-trailer, driven by a 49-year-old man also of Jacksonville, rear-ended the tow truck.
The tractor-trailer crossed over the median and was in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 before it stopped after hitting the tree line. The tow truck was also pushed off the road on the eastbound side and also came to rest in the tree line. The 40-year-old tow truck driver was killed, and unspecified charges were pending against the other driver. Reports did not indicate if the tractor-trailer driver was injured in the crash.
According to the Florida State Highway Patrol, the crash scene was strewn with debris, including oil and hydraulic fluid, which took most of the night to clear. A 10-mile stretch of Interstate 10 was closed until close to 8 a.m. the following morning. Officers also indicated that the large accident scene meant that collecting evidence also took longer than usual.
When a person is killed in a motor vehicle accident caused by another party, the surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death suit against the other driver — and sometimes, even the trucking company in the case of accidents involving tractor-trailers. The evidence collected in the crash investigation is crucial, and an attorney can ensure you get access to the trucking logs and black box records as well to ensure all of the evidence is presented clearly and accurately.
Source: News4Jax, “Man, 40, dies in I-10 crash overnight” Elizabeth Campbell, Sep. 25, 2014