Snoozing 76-Year-Old Truck Driver Kills 10 People

 Posted on November 07, 2013 in General

By: Robert F. Geimer

When a 76 year-old truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and killed 10 people, including two families of four, along Interstate 44 in Oklahoma, it turns out that the truck driver had started his shift at 3 a.m. with just 5 hours sleep and had been driving for 10 hours when the collision occurred.  He never even applied the brakes.

Unfortunately, preventable tragedies such as this are on the rise.  A report released earlier this year by the American Association for Justice showed that 2011 (the most recent year complete data are available) marked the second straight year truck-car collision deaths rose, an 11.2% increase over 2009.  According to the report, “Truck drivers – compensated by miles driven, not hours worked – are pushed to ignore safety measures, delay repairs and drive in a fatigued state.”

It is terrifying to think that a 40,000 pound rig cruising alongside you at highway speed may be operated by a strained and fatigued driver pushing physical limits for the purpose of profit.  Trucking companies must be held accountable for tragedies that occur as the result of dangerous driving for profit.