Driver Injured in 18-wheeler Accident on I-90 in North Bend, WA
North Bend, WA -- May 23, 2022, one person sustained injuries due to an accident where a pickup and a semi-truck crashed along I-90.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 2:00 p.m. along westbound I-90 near mile marker 40, east of town.
According to officials, a pickup was traveling along the interstate when it somehow crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer. Due to the collision, the pickup driver was taken to a hospital with reportedly serious injuries.
No further information about the crash is available at this time.
Commentary on 18-wheeler Accident on I-90 in North Bend
It's not entirely clear what happened here, but when folks see someone hit the back of a tractor-trailer, they tend to just assume the driver screwed up. That could be what happened here; things like speeding and distracted driving are all too common. But things aren't always so simple, which is why I always ensure there are thorough independent investigations into crashes like this.
Not long ago, for example, I handled a situation where someone rear-ended a tractor-trailer that was stopped along the highway. As we dug into things, we found that the truck had been stopped due to mechanical issues, and there were several problems authorities overlooked. For one, despite several minutes passing, the truck driver made no effort to put out cones or flares. Additionally, the mechanical issues disabling the truck were the direct result of neglected maintenance the company flouted in a ridiculous attempt to cut costs. And to make matters worse, the truck driver actually could have continued driving until they found somewhere safe to pull over. Instead, the driver panicked and stopped on the highway, creating a deadly obstacle.
What some would have written off as an avoidable, typical rear-end collision turned out to be a complex series of negligent decisions resulting in a serious crash. Without independent investigations, who knows if those details ever would have seen the light of day. That's why it's important to ensure the right people are handling crashes like this. Are those steps being taken here?
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