Johnston County, NC — October 18, 2024, at least two people were injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 11:30 p.m. on Interstate 95.
According to initial details about the accident, it happened along northbound lanes of the interstate near Brogden Road south of Smithfield.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said that traffic moving along northbound I-95 slowed due to construction. As traffic slowed, an approaching 18-wheeler driver allegedly was asleep at the wheel. The 18-wheeler crashed into the traffic, striking at least five other vehicles. Authorities say people from four of the vehicles were taken from the scene for treatment, but two people were confirmed to have serious injuries.
Authorities say the truck driver would be facing charges for careless and reckless driving. No further information is available right now.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
With a rear-end collision like this, especially with the truck driver potentially facing charges, people tend to think everything is open-and-shut. But while the cause of these accidents usually has to do with a driver making a mistake, it’s important to know why that mistake happened. There could be a negligent employer here whose actions set the stage for a serious crash to happen.
Let me give an example of what I mean. Reports right now suggest this crash could be fatigue related. I had a case not long ago where fatigue led to a truck wreck. A truck driver had been behind the wheel for over 20 hours straight. That behavior was obviously wrong, and authorities agreed, but we kept digging into the driver’s working conditions. That’s how we found a problem a lot more serious than just an individual negligent driver.
At that company, drivers were expected to meet absolutely ludicrous deadlines. To meet them, drivers would speed, run lights, neglect maintenance, skip rest breaks, and otherwise cut any corner possible. If they didn’t, they risked losing their livelihoods. The company knew this would create unnecessary risks for the public and even their own drivers. They simply didn’t give a damn so long as business was booming. Predictably, though, their demanding schedule backfired and resulted in a serious yet totally preventable accident.
Simply put, if the family involved in that accident had been content just to have a bad guy to blame, that company could have continued their reckless behavior unchecked. Generally speaking, people want to see actual accountability for the harm done to them. That requires knowing all of the facts and ensuring that all responsible parties answer for their role in the accident. If investigations begin and end at the accident scene, though, that’s not likely to happen.
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