Patrick Calhoun Mays Killed, Rebecca Mays, Teen Injured in 18-wheeler Accident in Iredell County, NC
Iredell County, NC -- November 28, 2022, Patrick Calhoun Mays was killed and Rebecca Mays and a teen were injured after an 18-wheeler accident.
Officials said that the crash happened at around 6:00 p.m. along I-77 in the area of Langtree Road. It appears that 66-year-old Patrick Calhoun Mays and Rebecca Mays were in a Ford Focus along with a 15-year-old. While they were stopped along the interstate due to traffic, authorities say an 18-wheeler did not slow down in time, ramming into their vehicle.
Due to the collision, Patrick Mays sustained fatal injuries. Rebecca Mays and the teen passenger were taken to an area hospital with unspecified injuries. No one else appeared to be hurt. Authorities arrested the truck driver, identified as Oleg Polishchuk, for misdemeanor death by vehicle. Additional details are still under investigation.
Commentary on Patrick Mays, Rebecca Mays 18-wheeler Accident in Iredell County
With details like these, it's blood-boiling, to say the least, that such an avoidable tragedy took a man from his family. While I can't jump to conclusions without knowing more information, there no doubt needs to be thorough consequences for the deadly mistakes that led to this. While authorities seem to be taking some steps to that end, folks don't often consider just how broad the scope is after a deadly truck wreck.
Even if the truck driver did something wrong and faces charges for it, that may not address all of the issues that led to the crash. At the end of the day, victims and families still must consider the hurdles that the driver's employer or insurance company are going to put between them and the justice they deserve.
For example, I handled a situation a while back where a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel after driving for over 20 hours straight. As clearly reckless as that was, 30 years of truck wreck litigation teaches one to always be thorough. As we dug into the details more, something very concerning came to light. It turned out the driver's employer was about as directly involved in the crash as the driver was.
That company would routinely coerce drivers into cutting corners, speeding, skipping maintenance, hauling oversized loads, and driving beyond federal hours of service limits all in the name of their bottom line. Naturally, these drivers doing whatever it took to put food on their family's table were going to make a mistake. That company either was too stupid not to realize that or they were so reckless they didn't give a damn who got hurt due to their actions.
Bringing factors like that to light is important for a few main reasons. One is simply that the victims and families deserve to see those responsible for their hardships held accountable, and another is that those details can work toward giving those folks the help they need following a serious truck wreck. But more than that, those steps can also work to correct reckless behavior which could otherwise destroy the lives of other families. That's why when I read about a crash like this, I am not satisfied simply to see potential criminal charges. There could be a lot more to address here, and I'm worried steps aren't being taken to ensure this family sees the justice they deserve to see.
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