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CHP Continues Investigations into Runaway Truck Accident in Santa Barbara

The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into a fatal accident caused by a runaway truck in Santa Barbara.  The crash killed a couple and their seven-year-old son.

The accident occurred last Tuesday about 50 miles southwest of Los Angeles.  A gravel truck hauling tons of gravel apparently went out of control, and crashed into a wooden home.  The four victims were inside the home, and sustained fatal injuries.  The house was more than 50 years old, and was situated just behind a motel. The crash almost completely destroyed the house and buried much of it under rubble.    The truck driver suffered minor injuries in the accident.

According to him, he had just collected a load of gravel from a nearby quarry just before his truck went out of control.  Witnesses on Highway 154 alleged that smoke was billowing from under the truck as it headed down the highway, and touched 50 mph.  According to the truck driver, he managed to avoid striking the motel, and steered the truck into a side street where it crashed into the house.  Initial California Highway Patrol  accounts blamed brake failure for the accident.  However, brake failure has not been confirmed as a factor, and the California Highway Patrol says it is continuing its investigation.  This includes an investigation of mechanical and operational factors.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the truck driver suspected that something was wrong with his brakes after he collected his load of gravel.  He stopped the truck and inspected for braking problems, and thought he had fixed them.  However, the problems emerged again as he neared the summit of the pass.  According to the truck driver, he tried desperately to slow down the truck by using the handbrake and downshifting.  All these attempts were futile, and his truck crashed into two parked cars, damaging them before running into the tiny wooden home.

California Highway Patrol investigators don’t believe that drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.  Going by the truck driver’s account, much of the investigation is likely to focus on the mechanical condition of the truck, including the brakes says a Santa Barbara truck accident lawyer.

Commercial trucks can be subject to great wear and tear.  Almost all components of the truck, including the brakes, tires, wheels and steering can be put to great strain every day.  That’s why maintenance of trucks is such a big factor in trucking safety.  It’s also the reason why federal and state regulations set strict standards for truck maintenance.  California truck accident lawyers know that some parts of the truck may be more prone to wearing out than others.  For example, the tires which are the only component of the truck that actually comes into direct contact with the road, are actually at high risk of getting worn out prematurely, increasing the risk of a blowout and an accident.  The truck’s brakes are also placed under immense pressure every day, contributing to wear and tear and brake failure.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of truck accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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One response to “CHP Continues Investigations into Runaway Truck Accident in Santa Barbara”

1. bipolar writes:
   

   Food for thought.

   @ September 24th, 2010 at 14:28