Work Truck Driver Killed in Rear-End Crash with Semi-Truck on I-5 in Tacoma, WA
Tacoma, WA -- February 15, 2022, one person was killed in a collision between a work truck and a semi-truck on Interstate 5 in Pierce County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 2:40 p.m. on southbound I-15 near South 84th Street. Preliminary investigation suggests a landscaping truck was traveling south on the roadway at speeds reportedly exceeding 60 miles per hour on the highway when it collided with the back of a semi-truck that was slowing ahead in response to traffic.
The work truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Truck Accident on I-5 in Tacoma
When folks see a rear-end collision I've noticed many will automatically assume the rear driver did something wrong. Perhaps that's the case here as well; reports suggest the work truck driver may have been speeding, though that doesn't seem to be proven at this point. It's also important to consider the fuller context of the collision rather than just blaming some kind of driver mistake. Could any other factors have played a part?
For instance, reports say the semi-truck was slowing down ahead of the work truck in the roadway. Did that driver slow gradually as he approached traffic, or did he slam the brakes when he was close? Could the work truck driver see the traffic ahead from behind the semi-truck? How far apart were they before approaching traffic? Was the work truck driver paying close attention to his surroundings? If not, why not? Was the road in good condition, free of water and/or debris? Is it possible the work truck had some kind of brake or mechanical failure that prevented the driver from stopping? Likewise, could the driver have had a medical issue that incapacitated them at the wheel?
I'm not trying to muddy the waters or point any fingers here. I just know from experience that preliminary reports don't always contain the full story, so it's best not to take their explanation at face value and move on without looking for more details. A life was lost here, and that driver's loved ones deserve to know they're getting the full story. Maybe authorities are working hard to bring them that, but many similar accidents I've come across over the years required independent investigations before the truth was really known.
[jump]
