James Gilbert, Angel Bidabur Perez Killed in Truck Accident in Butler County, KY
Butler County, KY -- July 19, 2022, James Gilbert and Angel Perez were killed due to an accident where an 18-wheeler crashed on I-165.
Investigators reported that the crash took place Tuesday afternoon along I-165 in a construction zone near mile marker 20.
According to authorities, 38-year-old Angel Bidabur Perez was in a tractor-trailer traveling northbound along the interstate. Somehow, the 18-wheeler hit a stationary truck occupied by 43-year-old James Gilbert that was in a construction area. As a result, the 18-wheeler caught fire.
Perez and Gilbert both sustained fatal injuries. No further information about the crash is available at this time.
Commentary on James Gilbert, Angel Bidabur Perez 18-wheeler Accident in Butler County
How an 18-wheeler crashed into a construction zone is obviously a big point of concern, though I would caution folks from immediately jumping to blame the 18-wheeler driver. While it is true that this sort of thing is usually the result of something like speeding, fatigue, or distracted driving, it's important to know the whole story. These things aren't always as simple as one may think, and grieving family members deserve to know they're getting all the facts.
Two main issues come to mind with a crash like this. One is that a driver crashing into a construction zone could be as simple as them looking at their phone or as complex as their employer not maintaining their trucks to the point there's a catastrophic mechanical issue. Hours of service, training, maintenance, health records, cargo loading--these are things authorities rarely consider, yet they could be crucial in getting answers.
Secondly, it's worth considering whether or not this incident would have been fatal had there not been a fire. I can't know the exact severity of the collision itself, but an 18-wheeler bursting into flames isn't always a reasonable result of a collision. Sometimes, it's the result of shoddy manufacturing that puts fuel tanks in unnecessarily dangerous locations, almost guaranteeing a crash results in a fire. This is something manufacturers can address, yet they choose not to to shave costs. Maybe that wouldn't have made a difference here, but again, families deserve to know they're getting the full story. Simply waiting around for the authorities may not be good enough in that regard.
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