Wilson County, TX — August 6, 2024, Alvin Cotham was killed as the result of a dual 18-wheeler accident at around 11:15 p.m. along I-40.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol released initial details about the accident which indicate it happened on eastbound lanes near South Hartmann Drive.
According to officials, 66-year-old Alvin Cotham was in a tractor-trailer going eastbound on the interstate. From westbound lanes, it appears another tractor-trailer somehow careened left across the median and into eastbound lanes. There, that truck crashed into Cotham’s truck, killing Cotham. No other injuries were reported.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
While the cause of the crash is unclear, reports mention possible charges pending against the westbound truck driver. Is this just speculation, or do authorities believe this happened due to a mistake? While it’s possible the cause was something unavoidable—like a tire blowout or a sudden medical emergency—it’s more common that a crash like this was the result of a serious mistake. But even if evidence shows that the driver who crossed the median did something wrong, it’s important to find out if the driver had a negligent employer who also contributed to the accident.
I’ve handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, many of which involved hard working, responsible commercial drivers harmed by reckless drivers employed by companies who allowed that reckless behavior to occur. Any experienced trucker will attest to the fact many employers will demand that drivers meet unrealistic schedules, will rush inexperienced drivers through vital safety training, hire drivers with a history of reckless driving, skip routine maintenance, and otherwise prioritize work over safety. Inevitably, this leads to people getting hurt, but those companies are either too inept to understand the risk or are just so selfish that they don’t give a damn.
Again, I can’t say what exactly happened here. But if authorities aren’t considering evidence beyond what’s immediately available at the crash scene, they could be missing something important. A man lost his life here, and that warrants considering every possible factor. If it turns out there’s more than one party responsible for this, there needs to be accountability for all involved.
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