Tractor Trailer Driver Runs Into Line of Cars and Bookstore Killing Two People
A semi truck driver crashed into a line of cars and a store at a busy intersection in California killing two people and damaging many vehicles, according to an article on Foxnews.com. The semi truck driver who caused the accident and the deaths was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony reckless driving.
When tractor trailers, which can often weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, are driven recklessly, it is obvious that serious damage and carnage can result. When the semi truck driver's actions are reckless enough, such a serious accident will result not just in a civil personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, but also criminal charges. How is it decided whether criminal charges will be brought after a serious accident? It is up to the local police and prosecutor's office. However, in accidents where serious injuries or death(s) result and the driver's conduct was more than just careless, criminal charges are much more likely. The article does not elaborate as to the particular factors that caused this crash, but the fact that the semi truck driver was driving poorly enough in heavy traffic to drive his vehicle through a bookstore is an indication of seriously reckless driving. As the criminal case and wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits progress, I suspect much more will be discovered about this semi truck driver and what led him to cause this crash.
