One Critically Injured in Crash with 18-Wheeler on I-15 in Orem, UT
Orem, UT — May 29, 2022, a man was critically injured in a collision with a semi-truck right after a prior accident on Interstate 15 in Orem.
According to reports the incident happened around 10:55 a.m. on southbound I-15. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was headed south on the highway when he lost control of his car for unknown reasons. The vehicle crashed into the median barrier and spun out across several lanes. It was then hit by a passing tractor-trailer and dragged roughly 500 feet from the impact site before both vehicles stopped.
The victim suffered critical injuries and was taken to an area hospital. No other injuries were reported.
Investigators believe speed and weather were significant factors in the accident.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Car/18-Wheeler Accident on I-15 in Orem
It seems from early reports like the victim is thought to have traveled at unsafe speeds for road conditions, leading him to lose control. That may yet turn out to be the case; goodness knows there's plenty of precedent for that kind of crash.
Before anyone considers the matter settled, though, it's best to zoom out a little and look at other elements of the accident as well. For instance, it's important to consider the timing between the first crash with the barrier and the second with the truck. How much time passed between those incidents? Was it just a matter of moments, or did a minute or two pass by as the car sat disabled in the road? Could the truck driver reasonably have taken any action to stop or steer clear of the car rather than hit it?
I know how those questions may sound, but I'm not accusing the truck driver of anything. As I said at the beginning, further investigation may just confirm this is another case of speeding on a wet road and little else. I just know from long experience in this field that every detail of an accident should be considered before anyone conclusively says what went wrong. Even if the victim skidded out on the water and hit the barrier, that's not necessarily a justification for the big rig hitting his car. Moreover, the law understands that someone can make a mistake while still considering whether anything or anyone else played a part in his damages.
All I'm saying here is that most accidents don't really tie up as neatly as news or police reports make them sound. To be sure the whole story is really discovered it's important to dig deeper, but if police already have a plausible theory about what happened they may not be inclined to look again. To be sure the victim's family gets the answers and help they deserve, this crash may need another look by independent investigators.
