Royce Stephens, Philip Kozak Jr., Denise Kozak Injured in Truck Accident in Cass County, NE
Cass County, NE -- April 29, 2022, Royce Stephens, Philip Kozak Jr., and Denise Kozak were injured in an accident where a truck and a semi-trailer crashed.
In their reports, Cass County Sheriff's officials said that the crash took place in the afternoon hours of Friday at Highways 34 and 50.
According to investigators, 58-year-old Royce Stephens was driving a Ford Super Duty through the intersection. Somehow, the Ford crashed with an eastbound semi-trailer driven by 65-year-old Philip Kozak Jr.
Due to the crash, Stephens, Kozak, and a passenger identified as 63-year-old Denise Kozak reportedly went to a hospital. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Royce Stephens, Philip Kozak Jr., Denise Kozak Truck Accident in Cass County
It's not really clear what happened here, considering the reports don't say which direction the Ford was going or how the vehicles collided. This could be something as simple as a truck running a stop sign because someone was on their phone. It could also be something more complex, such as a mechanical defect or roadway design issues putting drivers in danger. Obviously, getting evidence requires thorough investigations, but it's important folks understand that waiting around for police is not usually the best way to get that information.
Police officers themselves can be perfectly skilled and capable, but the reality is departments don't often prioritize accident reconstruction. With something as complex as a dual commercial truck wreck, that just makes it more likely that important details will slip through the cracks. Independent accident reconstructionists, on the other hand, typically have years of industry experience and state-of-the-art tools to make sure that even unlikely possible factors get attention.
That's one of the reasons I almost always rely on their efforts when people come to me for help. Through the hundreds of families I've assisted after a commercial vehicle accident, getting the as much clear evidence as possible was almost always a necessary step to getting them the help they needed. Are folks taking those steps here?
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