Trucking Accidents Continue in Illinois

 Posted on February 24, 2014 in Personal Injury

Tragic accidents involving semi trucks continue to occur in Illinois. The Daily Herald reported recently that a truck accident is being closely investigated by two federal agencies, after it caused the death of a tollway worker, and seriously injured a state trooper. The accident happened on I-88 in Aurora. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) started their investigations earlier last week.

The Crash

As the tollway worker and trooper were assisting a disabled semitrailer, they were struck by a truck driver. The truck driver, who is currently facing criminal charges, allegedly only slept for three and a half hours over the course of his 37.5 hour shift, during which he traveled through several states. He collided with both the trooper's and tollway worker's parked vehicles, despite the fact that their emergency lights were flashing.

Criminal Charges

The criminal investigation into the accident is ongoing, but the driver is currently facing felony charges as the result of the accident. He is being charged with operating a commercial motor vehicle while fatigued or impaired, breaking a rule that bans more than 11 hours of driving per a 14 hour shift, and falsely reporting a record and duty status.

Employer Liability

FMCSA is expected to determine whether the truck driver's employer violated any relevant trucking rules, as part of their investigation by letting the driver be on the road too long. The agency is also attempting to ensure that every trucking company abides by federal regulations that limit the number of hours truck drivers can be on the road.

Part of the regulations require the companies to keep recording logs of how long drivers can be on the road. The agency then compares the logs to federal regulations to ensure they are being followed. Other regulations additionally require drivers, who have spent more than 11 hour behind the wheel during a 14 hour shift, take a 10 hour break, something that prosecutors are saying this driver failed to do, but falsely recorded his compliance in his log.

Illinois Offers Support in Investigation

While NTSB is supposed to be leading the investigation that is assisted by FMCSA, Governor Quinn also wants an investigation into the crash, and has offered assistance from Illinois Department of Transportation as needed. The investigation will aim towards not only getting to the bottom of this accident, but also to put trucking companies on notice that violating federal regulations will be taken seriously, and that they will be enforced to the fullest extent.