Three Killed, Three Injured in Semi-Truck Accident on US 63 in West Plains, MO
West Plains, MO -- May 25, 2022, three people were killed and three were injured after an accident where a semi-truck crashed with a car on US 63.
Authorities reported that the crash took place at around 1:21 p.m. along US 63 at the intersection of State Route 17.
Investigators reported that a car was in the intersection when it appears, reports say, that a truck failed to brake at a red light, hitting an SUV. The truck then overturned on the car.
As a result of the crash, three people in the car were killed. One other was left in critical condition while two people in the SUV had reportedly moderate injuries.
Additional details about the crash are unavailable at this time.
Commentary on Semi-Truck Accident on US 63 in West Plains
While a lot of information still needs to be confirmed at this time, suggestions of a truck going through a red light are more than concerning. A truck trying but failing to stop, as reports suggest happened here, is usually a sign that someone wasn't paying attention to the road until it was too late. Checking cell phone records usually reveals what exactly was so distracting, though it's important investigators are as thorough as possible. Not only could this be some highly unusual situation the truck driver couldn't avoid, but even mistakes can involve complex issues victims and families need to be prepared for.
Put in simpler terms, folks deserve as much help as they can get, and they deserve to know the right people are being held accountable for their hardships. That requires evidence, which is why jumping to conclusions isn't likely to help. I'll give an example of why a crash like this can be so complex even if evidence shows the truck driver screwed up.
A while back, I handled a situation in which a truck driver was on his phone texting, resulting in a crash. That seemed pretty darn open-and-shut, but more thorough investigations showed he had been texting his supervisor. That supervisor would constantly call and text drivers all day, expecting them to respond immediately and without question. If they failed to do, they basically risked their jobs. Naturally, this led to drivers engaging in reckless behavior all to appease their unreasonable boss, and it was inevitable someone would get hurt.
So why does that matter? Well, consider the awful consequences of this particular crash. Three people lost their lives. At least one other is fighting for theirs. Shouldn't that warrant every possible step to get the victims and families involved the answers they deserve? Of the hundreds of families I've helped in similar situations, they all wanted assistance, but they also wanted one other thing: accountability. They wanted to be sure that the right people were being held accountable for their actions. Whatever led to this crash, similar steps should be taken to ensure there is accountability for these awful events.
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