James Douglas Hedley III Injured in Tractor-Trailer Accident in Coppell, TX
Coppell, TX -- January 17, 2022, James Douglas Hedley III was injured after an accident where his vehicle crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer.
Authorities reported that the crash took place at around 6:10 a.m. along the LBJ Freeway near Belt Line Road.
According to officials, 27-year-old James Douglas Hedley III was in a Toyota Tacoma traveling eastbound along an exit ramp. For reasons unclear, the vehicle went onto the shoulder where it rear-ended a tractor trailer on the shoulder.
Due to the collision, Hedley had reportedly incapacitating injuries. Police said that the truck driver was asleep in the sleeper berth at the time and had the emergency lights on. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on James Douglas Hedley III Tractor-Trailer Accident in Coppell
Someone going onto the shoulder and hitting a parked vehicle is often a concerning sign that they were fatigued or otherwise doing something they shouldn't have been. I obviously wouldn't suggest ignoring that. However, folks may see that the truck was parked on the shoulder with its hazards on and assume that the truck driver did everything possible not to create a dangerous obstacle along the roadway. Well, it's possible those efforts didn't go far enough.
Generally speaking, trucks aren't supposed to stop along highway except in cases of emergency. That would be something like a medical episode or some unforeseeable mechanical issue. While it's incredibly dangerous to driving while fatigued, that's rarely an acceptable reason to stop on the shoulder. Most reasonably prudent professionals know how to budget their time so they can find somewhere safe to stop before they get tired. Either that, or they take the exit and look for somewhere out of the way of traffic to stop.
Hazards or not, a truck on the shoulder can be a deadly obstacle. It's possible further investigations would show this truck driver took the proper precautions and that the truck was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, experience tells me that, like most commercial truck wrecks, things aren't going to be as one-sided as the reports make it seem.
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