It was around 5:39 p.m. on Aug. 22 when a 71-year-old truck driver in Colorado lost control of his trailer and spilled a load of sand onto two vehicles. An additional three vehicles crashed at the site from behind the pile up. While trying to make an eastbound turn onto Baseline Road from the northbound Foothills Parkway, the truck driver swerved into oncoming westbound traffic. After negotiating the traffic maneuver unsuccessfully, the semi turned over on its side and released the load of sand it was hauling.
Two westbound vehicles, a Subaru Impreza and a Toyota Highlander, were covered in sand. While the female driver of the Toyota was able to escape from her car with the help of an onlooker, the male driver of the Subaru had to be dug out of his vehicle. Many passersby and emergency personnel worked with shovels and bare hands to rescue the Boulder resident from his car.
Following the rescue from his Subaru, the driver was taken to Boulder Community Health. He was treated for fractured ribs and vertebrae, along with abrasions, during his overnight stay at the hospital. The woman driving the Toyota SUV, as well as the man driving the truck, were both taken to the hospital and released within the same day. After an examination of the semi-trailer by authorities, the truck driver was issued a defective vehicle ticket. The inspection revealed that seven of the truck’s brakes were incorrectly adjusted.
Besides extensive property damage, motor vehicle accidents oftentimes result in personal injuries to the individuals involved. If a motorist can be proven negligent in the case of an accident because of operating an unsafe vehicle, the injured victims may be able to sue and receive compensation for their losses.
Source: Boulder Daily Camera, “Boulder police ticket driver of sand-hauling semitrailer in Baseline crash“, Mitchell Byars, September 04, 2014