Investigators are working to reconstruct a February 11 accident that left one man dead after two vehicles were engulfed in flames. The early morning accident happened on a sharp curve of Madison Pike in Fiskburg when a tractor-trailer pushed a pickup truck off the road, pinning it against a tree.
The vehicles quickly caught fire. The driver of the tractor-trailer managed to escape, but the pickup truck driver wasn’t so lucky. WLWT reported, “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"][Fire Chief David Marquardt] said passersby tried to help the pickup driver but were unsuccessful. ‘They had pry bars and stuff. Actually the homeowner, he tripped over the barbed wire fence. He actually has scrapes and tears on his clothes from where he tried to get to the vehicle to help the subject out."
While the cause remains under investigation, long-time resident Paul Pfanstiel told WCPO 9 that there was ice on the road that morning. In addition, he said the sharp curves on Madison Pike are dangerous. “When they come around that curve, they don’t have no control,” Pfanstiel said.
Big rigs are a force to be reckoned with
This deadly accident highlights the dangers of sharing the road with big trucks. Even in ideal driving conditions, an accident with a tractor-trailer can be fatal. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Passenger vehicles, which may weight only 2,000 lbs, don’t stand a chance in a collision with a tractor-trailer.
Passersby were horrified by the fiery accident, which shut down the highway for most of the day. The Kentucky State Police are working to determine how the accident happened, though there is little doubt that poor conditions and the sharp curve were contributing factors. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of 28-year-old David Erskine, who was lost in the accident.
Tractor-trailers are a significant threat to others on the road. Defensive driving and reasonable caution only go so far. At Crandall & Pera Law, we fight every day to protect the rights of accident victims and get them the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, our compassionate Kentucky truck accident attorneys can evaluate your case and protect you and your family. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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