Albert Fields Jr. and Son Killed in Constantine Township, MI Truck Accident
Constantine Township, MI— July 21, 2022, Albert Fields Jr. and his 15-year-old son died when their pickup crashed with a semi-truck in Constantine Township.
According to reports the incident happened around 10:15 a.m. along U.S. Highway 131 near Youngs Prairie Road. Preliminary investigation suggests Fields was driving a pickup truck north on the roadway when he allegedly crossed over the center line. After entering the oncoming lane the pickup collided head-on with a southbound semi-truck.
Fields and his son both suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The semi-truck driver was taken to an area hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
The crash remains under investigation but impairment is not believed to be a factor.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Albert Fields Accident in Constantine Twp
If reports have their facts straight it looks like this crash may have been caused by the victims' vehicle going left of center. However, even if that's accurate there's still the question of why. The reason could be as simple as a driver error like speeding or distraction, but there are also many other possible explanations. Could the pickup have blown a tire or had a mechanical failure? What about the driver--did he have a medical emergency? Those may not be as common as distracted or sleepy driving, but nothing should be dismissed without proper investigation.
Of course, there's also the matter of making sure the victims were actually the ones to cross over. In another case not long ago, for instance, police said someone crossed the center line before fatally colliding with an 18-wheeler. We looked again at the family's request and found the victim was only in the oncoming lane to escape the truck, which crossed over first. Police decided what happened based mostly on finding the car in the wrong lane, and the only witness was the sleepy trucker who didn't correct their mistake.
I'm not saying the Route 37 crash is like that or suggesting police will drop the ball. I'm only trying to point out that things aren't always as clear-cut as they seem and police sometimes overlook critical details. That's why I often suggest working with independent accident reconstruction experts who devote the proper time and care to finding all the facts. At the very least, the victims' family deserves to know they have all the answers that could be found.
