One Killed in Head-On Crash with 18-Wheeler on US-14 in Spring Green, WI
Spring Green, WI -- April 12, 2022, one person was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 14 in Sauk County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 7:50 a.m. along US-14 near County Line Road in the town of Spring Green. Preliminary investigation suggests a Toyota RAV4 was headed east on the highway when a westbound 18-wheeler crossed over the center line nearby and crashed into it head-on. After the impact both vehicles left the road and came to rest in a ditch.
The Toyota driver suffered fatal injuries in the collision. The truck driver reportedly received minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on 18-Wheeler Accident on US-14 in Spring Green
After reading the reported details of this accident some people may feel there's little else to say. A truck driver allegedly crossed left of center and hit the victim's SUV; what else is there to know before concluding the truck driver is at fault?
That may seem reasonable on its face, but I caution against thinking any commercial truck accident is ever resolved that easily. I don't say that to be cynical or upset anyone, but rather to set expectations; I've done this work for decades and I can count on one hand--with fingers left over--the number of companies that simply accepted the blame and made amends.
The vast majority of companies deny responsibility and look for ways to deflect blame elsewhere if they can--bad roads, limited visibility, vehicle malfunctions, or even the victims themselves all become scapegoats for the defense. They might try to tell a jury the victim's injuries actually happened because they were speeding or didn't wear a seat belt, just to name a couple of common arguments. Are those true? The defense doesn't care as long as they can muddy the waters until a jury doesn't feel right blaming the truck driver anymore. It falls to the victims to prove those arguments false with clear evidence.
That's why after just about any accident, but especially a commercial one, it's best to conduct a careful and thorough investigation and find all the facts. Plenty of indisputable evidence means there's a lot less "wiggle room" for companies to use while telling their own versions of what happened. Unfortunately police don't always have the time or inclination to look carefully enough at a crash, so often the best recourse for victims is to work with independent investigators who know what to look for and how to get it. Armed with the proof they find, many injured victims and grieving families have successfully fought for the help they deserved after a commercial crash.
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