Kastarra Sha Quinta Lawrence Killed, Corey McKonnen Duncan Jr., 2 Injured in Truck Accident in Salem County, NJ
Salem County, NJ -- April 19, 2022, Kastarra Sha Quinta Lawrence was killed and Corey McKonnen Duncan Jr. and two others were Injured in a truck accident.
Authorities reported that the crash took place at around 4:30 a.m. along the NJ Turnpike at the Carneys Point Township toll plaza.
In their reports, officials said that a Freightliner semi-trailer somehow crashed into the back of a Ford F-150. This caused the semi-truck to overturn onto its side.
As a result of the crash, a passenger in the semi, identified as Kastarra Sha Quinta Lawrence, sustained fatal injuries. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Corey McKonnen Duncan Jr. Two people in the pickup had reportedly non-life-threatening injuries.
At this time, the cause of the crash remains unclear.
Commentary on Kastarra Sha Quinta Lawrence, Corey McKonnen Duncan Jr. Truck Accident in Salem County
Something I come across a lot is people jumping to conclusions about a crash they feel is straight-forward in the initial reports. Here, authorities say a commercial truck rear-ended a pickup and overturned. That must mean the truck driver did something wrong, right? Well, that seems pretty likely. Rear-end collisions are usually the result of reckless driving by the rear driver. But jumping to conclusions isn't going to help anyone, especially considering the possibility something unusual led to this crash.
As likely as things like cell phone usage and fatigue are, one can't rule out unusual circumstances without clear evidence. Something like a mechanical issue, a tire defect, road hazards, or a medical issue could easily slip under the radar without the right experience and equipment, which authorities don't often have. Not only that, but even mistakes can involve complex scenarios. While fatigue is generally a driver's fault, for example, I had a case not that long ago where a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel because their employer coerced them into driving ridiculous, dangerous hours. Could it be that the company involved in this crash is more the problem? Could there be others at risk?
Put simply, without proper investigations, there are too many important details that can slip through the cracks. Considering there was another serious fatal truck wreck not far from this one just hours earlier the night before, the authorities no doubt have a lot on their plates. That's only more reason to make sure independent investigators have a chance to look into things so that nothing important falls through the cracks. Getting folks the help they need means ensuring they have the evidence needed to tell the whole story.
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