Adan Loya-Rodriguez Killed in Truck Accident in Union Twp, NJ
Union Township, NJ — May 26, 2022, 51-year-old Adan Loya-Rodriguez was killed and another man was injured in a truck accident on Route 78 in Union Township.
According to reports the incident happened around 8:10 p.m. along Route 78 near exit 11. Preliminary investigation suggests Loya-Rodriguez was driving a Mack tractor-trailer east near an Acura RSX when the two collide for unknown reasons. After the impact both car and truck entered the median and hit a guardrail.
The big rig overturned and Loya-Rodriguez suffered fatal injuries. The Acura's 21-year-old driver received moderate injuries and was airlifted to an area hospital.
The crash remains under investigation. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Adan Loya-Rodriguez Accident in Union Twp
Pretty much all the news says so far is that people were hurt in a crash involving a big rig. I'm not saying police should have a complete picture so soon after the crash, and the news is at the mercy of what law enforcement is willing to tell them, but it makes for a frustratingly vague report so far.
Some people may not handle that frustration particularly well. Instead of waiting for more investigation they may jump to some conclusions about what happened. I can understand the temptation to connect the dots for one's self when answers aren't available, but doing so is irresponsible. For instance, some folks might be inclined to blame the truck because big rigs can be exceedingly dangerous when mishandled, while others may instinctively defend the trucker and say "people should be more careful around 18-wheelers."
I'm not taking either person's side or speaking ill of the man who sadly lost his life. Rather than making any assumptions about how that happened it's best to ensure that only objective facts tell the story. Investigators still have plenty of work to do figuring out what even happened, let alone who (if anyone) is to blame. They have to find out what both drivers were doing just before the wreck, if they were awake and alert, if their vehicles were in good working order, whether the highway was wet or otherwise hazardous, what visibility and lighting were like at the time, if there was any bad weather, and plenty of other details to make sure they have the story straight.
While they're working on that it's best not to make guesses from the sidelines. I get how it's tough to wait, but the best way to help the people hurt in the wreck is to find the truth of it. To that end the people affected by the crash may be better served by independent investigations. Seasoned experts with the right training and tools stand the best chance of learning all the facts. Any further action to take would probably depend on what those facts turn out to be.
