Indiana Accident News

Indiana crash highlights importance of semi safety

Posted on Feb 11, 2011

ETNA GREEN, Indiana -- A near-tragic crash in north-central Indiana has shed light on the need for safety among semi drivers.

An officer with the Koscuisko County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the scene of a slide-off along a snowy stretch of U.S. Route 30, near Indiana 19, on the evening of Friday, January 28. The officer offered the shelter of his patrol car while two stranded motorists waited for roadside assistance.

Around 8 p.m. a semi driven by Harold D. Butcher, 56, of Grand Rapids approached. Investigators say Mr. Butcher failed to reduce his speed and his rig side-swiped the police vehicle. Neither the officer, nor his passengers, suffered injury.

Investigators said they would pursue the possibility that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Whether through fatigue or impairment, it seems, the skills and attention of long-haul truckers are often diminished.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that fatigue is a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of all truck crashes.

President George W. Bush oversaw an effort to reduce consecutive hours of service (HOS) for truckers to 11. A vocal contingent now insists that 11 is still too many.

The Truck Safety Coalition is one of several organizations calling for HOS regulations to fall to 10 and want to push through limits of 77 hours of driving per week, including mandatory breaks of 34 hours, known as “weekends off.”

While the Koscuisko County officer and his passengers escaped without injury, not all travelers are as fortunate. The law offices of Keller & Keller LLP offers its support to the victims of semi accidents on America’s roadways.

back to top

Disclaimer

WHAT'S MY CASE WORTH?