Zachary Swindler Injured in Truck Accident on Hwy 36 near Meadville, MO
Meadville, MO— July 11, 2022, 37-year-old Zachary Swindler was injured in a collision with a Missouri DOT truck on Highway 36 near Meadville.
According to reports the incident happened Monday morning along Highway 36, roughly two miles east of town. Preliminary investigation suggests a MoDOT truck was in a construction area striping the roadway when Swindler approached in a Peterbilt semi-truck and crashed into it.
Swindler was ejected in the collision and suffered serious injuries. He was airlifted to an area hospital. The MoDOT truck driver, 23-year-old Garet Scott, was unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Zachary Swindler Accident near Meadville
I can't be the only one a little frustrated by the large gaps in information that preliminary reports can offer. All they say is that a big rig hit the MoDOT truck and someone was hurt, but they're wholly unclear on how and why that happened. Did the victim lose control of his truck? If so, why? How fast were both trucks traveling? Was the victim awake, alert, and focused on the road? Was the big rig in good working order--brakes, steering, alignment, etc? Was its load reasonably sized and properly secured? What were weather, road, and visibility conditions like in the area? Was the construction zone marked by signage, cones, or flaggers? Was there other traffic around?
I don't ask questions like those to complicate things or point fingers. It's just important to recognize all the possible variables and investigate them carefully--mostly to be sure all the crash's details are known, but also because every available fact is usually needed to get the victim the help they deserve. Even professional drivers who typically might receive workers' compensation benefits are best served by having the facts to back up what they say happened.
It usually takes more than police or news reports to get those facts, though, which is why I often suggest getting independent investigators to dig deeper than law enforcement typically does. With the evidence they find, victims and families whose lives are affected by these accidents are often able to get their lives back on track.
