Two small children were killed in a deadly accident with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 435 south of Kansas City (Two children killed in crash that shut down westbound I-435 at State Line Road). The minivan carrying the children was stopped on the highway near State Line Road when it was struck from behind by the tractor-trailer.
The semi-truck slammed into a concrete wall surrounding the highway with tremendous force. “We heard a tremendous BOOM that rattled our windows,” a witness said in a Facebook post. “The cab of a semi-tractor, wheels, tires, and even an axle were catapulted into our neighbor’s yard.”
The crash investigation by the Kansas Highway Patrol is currently ongoing, and the fault has not yet been determined. But it is worth remembering that all drivers should exercise extreme caution around tractor-trailers, which are around 20 times the size of a car and capable of causing devastating damage to any passenger vehicle.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provides the following suggestions for safe driving around tractor-trailers (Tips for Driving Safely Around Large Trucks or Buses):
- Stay out of blind spots
- Pass safely
- Never “cut off” a tractor-trailer
- Stay back – don’t tailgate
- Anticipate wide turns
- Be patient
- Wear your seat belt
- Stay focused
- Don’t drive when tired
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
These tips are essential for safely navigating around tractor-trailers because of their large blind spots, long stopping distances, and limited maneuverability. If you have been injured in an accident with a large truck or tractor-trailer, please contact SJB for a free consultation. We only receive a fee in the event of a successful resolution of your case.