A 4-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a UPS delivery truck in a Batavia Township neighborhood on Monday afternoon. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the child was riding his wagon when the Freightliner truck turned around in a cul-de-sac, stopped, and then began moving forward. At that point, the truck collided with the child as his wagon entered the roadway. The boy was flown to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Whenever I hear about a crash involving a commercial delivery truck in a residential area, I think about whether proper safety precautions were taken before moving. Oftentimes, the time requirements for making deliveries is at the expense of safety.
Did Visibility Issues Play a Role?
Delivery trucks have large blind spots, especially when maneuvering in tight residential spaces. Investigators should determine whether the driver properly checked their surroundings before moving forward and if visibility-enhancing features like mirrors or cameras were being used effectively. Reviewing the truck’s blind spot camera footage, if available, and driver statements could provide more information.
Was the Driver Following Proper Safety Protocols?
When operating in residential areas, commercial drivers are expected to take extra precautions due to the increased presence of pedestrians, children, and other unexpected hazards. Investigators should look into whether the driver followed safe procedures for navigating tight spaces and whether they came to a full stop and checked surroundings before moving forward. Reviewing the driver’s training records and safety compliance history could be crucial in determining whether proper precautions were taken.
What Types of Evidence Should Be Collected?
To fully understand what happened, investigators should review surveillance or dashcam footage to determine the driver’s actions before the crash, vehicle maintenance records to confirm whether the truck’s visibility equipment—such as mirrors or cameras—was functioning properly, and witness statements from neighbors or bystanders to clarify whether the truck driver checked their surroundings.
Why It’s Important to Answer These Questions
Crashes involving delivery trucks in residential areas are usually serious, as they often involve small children who may not be easily seen by drivers. Understanding whether driver distraction or safety lapses contributed to the collision is critical in determining how this happened. In my experience as an attorney, investigations like these often uncover factors that weren’t immediately apparent but are essential in understanding the full picture of the crash.