Walworth County Semi-Truck Crash Kills One and Injures Another
On October 30, 2008, a Semi-Truck crashed into an SUV, pushing it into the rear of another semi-truck. The accident occurred near Highway 11, west of Highway DD, in Spring Prairie Township, in Walworth County. As the photograph of the SUV illustrates, the collision essentially pinned the SUV between the two semi-trucks.
The driver of the SUV, George O. Smith Jr., 50, was taken to a Milwaukee-area hospital via a Flight for Life helicopter. Tragically, his father, George O. Smith Sr., 78, of Burlington, who was the front-seat passenger in the SUV, did not survive the crash.
Preliminary investigations have shown the lead semi-truck, a truck being operated by J.B. Hunt, had slowed or stopped for utility work that was being done by WE Energies in the area. It appears as though the SUV had also slowed or stopped, prior to being slammed from behind by the second semi-truck.
The driver of the second semi-truck, Darin Pleines, of Clofax, Illinois, admitted to authorities that immediately before the crash, he had taken his eyes off the road while reaching down for a soda. His trucking company also had citations as recent as July of 2008, for failing to adequately maintain the brakes in some of their tractor-trailers. However, it is unknown if brake failure played a role in the crash.
At this time, many questions remain unanswered, some of which include the following:
- Was the driver of the second semi-truck in compliance with the hours of service requirements, and if not, did fatigue play a role in causing the crash?
- Did the J.B. Hunt semi-truck engage it’s emergency flashers when stopping or reducing it's speed and if so, did this play a role in causing the crash?
- Did WE Energies provide adequate warnings in the area and if not, did this play a role in causing the crash?
- Did the J.B. Hunt semi-truck have proper underride equipment and if not, did that play a role in the extent of the injuries?
Meanwhile, the investigation continues. Click for more information about Wisconsin Truck Accidents and here for more information about Truck Driver Fatigue.
