Four people died in a horrific car accident on Interstate 55 late last year. The semitruck driver accused of causing the crash is now facing reckless homicide charges. He is from Greeley, Colorado, and he is 54 years old.
Reports indicate that traffic had entered a construction zone, where it had slowed considerably. The truck driver is accused of speeding illegally through that zone. When he neared the slower traffic ahead of him, he did not slow down fast enough and smashed into seven different cars.
People were trapped in those decimated vehicles and had to be rescued by emergency crews. Some rescue workers said they had never seen a crash that was worse in their lives. Witnesses claimed that the out-of-control semi drove completely over some of the passenger cars.
Reports estimate that the truck was doing around 60 mph at the time of the crash.
The four people who died were all young women, and two of them were sisters. Three of them were all riding together in the same car, which was a 2010 Kia. The other woman was in a separate vehicle.
A total of 15 people were hurt, counting the four who passed away. The other 11 were eventually rescued and rushed away to get proper medical care.
This story shows just how devastating a semitruck accident can be. The size and weight difference between semis and passenger cars means they can plow through multiple vehicles without stopping, putting other drivers and passengers in far more danger than the semi drivers themselves. After a tragic accident, injured parties and the families of those who are killed must know all of their legal options.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Trucker faces reckless homicide charges in crash that killed 4 on I-55 near Hamel,” Nassim Benchaabane, April 16, 2018
