Idaho Falls, ID — May 18, 2024, Abel Mejia Martinez, Pedro Alcantar Mejia, Brandon Ponce Gallegos, Jose Sanchez Medina, Luis Sereno Perez, and Javier Gomez Alcantar were killed in a van accident on U.S. Highway 20.
Preliminary information from Idaho State Police and Bonneville County officials say the crash happened at around 5:30 a.m. near Lindsay Boulevard.
According to reports, 43-year-old Abel Mejia Martinez, 26-year-old Pedro Alcantar Mejia, 24-year-old Brandon Ponce Gallegos, 20-year-old Jose Sanchez Medina, 32-year-old Luis Sereno Perez, and 36-year-old Javier Gomez Alcantar were riding in a passenger van going along westbound lanes of U.S. 20. From the eastbound lanes, it appears a Dodge Ram truck somehow crossed over the center line and hit the van. This caused the van to overturn off the side of the road.
Due to the collision, Abel Mejia Martinez, Pedro Alcantar Mejia, Brandon Ponce Gallegos, Jose Sanchez Medina, Luis Sereno Perez, and Javier Gomez Alcantar sustained fatal injuries. At least 9 others riding in the van were taken to area hospitals. The truck driver also had reported injuries. Right now, an exact cause for the crash has yet to be confirmed.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Given some of the details I’ve seen in the news about this crash, I have to wonder if authorities are being thorough enough in their investigations. The main reason I say that is because the pickup truck involved here could be a work truck. To be clear, I don’t know if it is or not. The reason it matters, though, is because a lot of crashes involving commercial vehicles happen for reasons that go back long before the driver ever got behind the wheel.
Across hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases I’ve handled, it would shock people to see how often employers played a direct role in a serious accident. A lot of employers encourage reckless driving or punish drivers who prioritize safety over speed. Many fail to maintain their vehicles, skipping repairs to save time or money. Others will ignore drivers who have a history of reckless driving or substance abuse issues.
All of these reckless practices and oversights are things that make an accident all but inevitable. Yet when it comes time hold someone accountable, all of the focus is on the driver—who should absolutely be held accountable when they make a mistake—while their employer gets to ride off into the sunset despite creating or allowing the conditions that led to the accident in the first place.
Like I said, there may not be an employer involved in this crash. It’s simply a possibility I haven’t seen anyone talk about that’s important to consider. After all, a crash this serious would warrant consequences for all parties who played a role.
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