A man was killed in a fatal box truck accident that took place on a highway in Fresno on Sunday. California Highway Patrol confirmed that the collision happened around 5 a.m. in the northbound lane of I-5 close to Xenia Avenue on the morning of December 17, 2023.
According to reports from Your Central Valley, the accident happened while a 32-year-old man was parked on the right-hand shoulder of the highway in a 2008 Toyota Camry and sitting in the driver’s seat. At the same time, a man from Anaheim was traveling north in a 2016 Mercedes box truck when the driver suddenly lost control.
The box truck veered onto the right-hand shoulder of the highway where the Toyota was parked and slammed into the rear left portion of the vehicle. Both vehicles sustained immense damage in the collision.
Paramedics and numerous other responders were called to the scene to assist those in need. The occupant in the Toyota’s driver’s seat was tragically pronounced dead on scene due to traumatic injuries. The driver of the Mercedes was hospitalized with minor injuries and the passenger inside the Toyota was hospitalized with moderate injuries.
Police did not say if the driver of the box truck will receive any charges for their role in the accident at this time.
The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the accident continues.
Truck Accident Dangers in Fresno
Because trucks are such large vehicles compared to other vehicles that utilize our roads, there is always a chance that catastrophic results will stem from a truck accident. This is why truck drivers are specifically trained to navigate our roads as safely as possible to prevent truck accidents from happening. Still, they continue to occur every day due to reasons including driver distractions, speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue.
According to information provided by California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), approximately 59 total truck-involved accidents took place throughout Fresno in 2022. Out of these accidents, a total of 6 people lost their lives and 76 sustained injuries. Many precautions are being put in place every year so that these accidents can be prevented on our highways and beyond throughout California.
A word for families who have lost a loved one in a Fresno truck accident…
Losing somebody close to you in an unexpected truck accident in Fresno can be a traumatic and devastating experience that nobody is ever prepared for. It is never easy to face a wrongful death claim, especially if you have never had to deal with one previously. When the insurance company starts to call and the bills are piling up, you may question what you can do. Speaking with a legal advocate about your options can be incredibly beneficial at this time.
You can read more about what options you have and how to bring a successful truck accident claim in Fresno and surrounding areas.
