Accidents involving tractor trailer trucks can be one of the most daunting types of roadway catastrophes. When a hazardous materials truck is involved, the results can be even more severe. A recent truck accident involved an SUV and a hazmat vehicle, with one driver ending up in critical condition.
In Virginia, hazardous materials made headlines this spring when a tractor-trailer overturned in Bedford County on May 9. The semi truck was carrying liquids that local crews assumed to be dangerous when it tipped over on Route 43.
Local authorities closed the road for a few hours while the hazardous materials regional response team cleaned up the spillage. While officials later determined that the leaked liquids posed no threat to nearby residents, the incident was still a reminder of how close drivers often are toxic chemicals and substances.
In the recent accident, an 18-year-old man driving a Chevy Blazer veered out of his own lane and into traffic. His car wound up hitting a semi truck headed in the opposite direction. Striking the rear axles of the tractor trailer, the man received serious injuries in the collision.
The truck driver, a 44-year-old man who had been transporting a cargo of sodium hydroxide was uninjured in the crash. The tanker, which was securely carrying the substance at the time, received damage during impact but fortunately did not leak.
Following the truck accident, the company of the damaged truck brought another tanker to the scene, transferring the materials from one trailer to the other.
In hazmat truck accidents, proper precautions must be taken to ensure that utmost safety conditions are kept in place at all times after an accident. Those who find themselves in an accident with a semi truck should seek professional legal guidance on how best to proceed after such an incident.
Source: WOWK, “Truck hits Haz-Mat semi; one man in critical condition,” Ben Moore, May 21, 2012
