Steven Raley Dies in Truck Accident on I-70 in Thomas County, KS
Thomas County, KS — July 12, 2022, 52-year-old Steven Raley was killed in a truck accident on Interstate 70 near Colby in Thomas County.
According to reports the incident happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. along I-70 around 16 miles west of Colby. Preliminary investigation suggests Raley was traveling on the interstate in a Volvo big rig when he lost control for unknown reasons. The truck veered off the road and crashed through a fence, then continued another quarter-mile and hit another part of the fence. It then passed through the interstate's travel lanes and came to rest in a ditch.
Raley, reportedly wearing a seat belt during the crash, was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Steven Raley Accident on I-70 in Thomas County
Right now reports seem to have only a loose grip on what happened here. It's one thing to know that a truck went off-course and crashed, but it's another entirely to get to the bottom of how that happened. People may be quick to blame some kind of driver mistake like falling asleep or getting distracted by something, but as common as issues like that are they can't and mustn't be taken for granted. What if he had a medical emergency? Could his truck have malfunctioned or maybe blown a tire? Is it possible the driver swerved sharply to avoid another vehicle? What were weather, road, and traffic conditions like in the area at the time?
I don't ask questions like that to complicate things or suggest I know more than the news says. In keeping an open mind and wondering about other possibilities I'm just addressing the need to consider all the possible variables and investigate them carefully.
Some may not think that's not particularly necessary because "workers' comp will handle it." I would beg to differ, as at the very least the victim's loved ones deserve every answer they can get about their terrible loss. Whether or not workers' comp is the sole way for them to seek help, it's still best to know the facts of any accident. If the truck crashed due to part failure from neglected maintenance, for example, the implications of that would be drastically different.
Unfortunately it often takes more effort than police make to learn the whole truth. That's why I often suggest the help of independent investigators with the time, tools, and training to look much closer than law enforcement typically does. With the evidence they find, victims and families whose lives are affected by these accidents stand a better chance of getting back on track the best they can.
