3-year-old Killed, 6 Injured in Truck Accident on Route 29 in Ellicott City, MD
Ellicott City, MD -- December 2, 2022, a 3-year-old was killed and others were injured due to an accident where a truck crashed into a car.
Investigators said that the crash took place at around 6:14 a.m. along Route 29 at the Route 40 interchange.
According to initial reports, it appears that a tanker truck was traveling northbound on Route 29 when it somehow crashed into the back of a Honda Odyssey. Other vehicles were also hit in the crash.
Due to the accident, a 3-year-old in the Honda sustained fatal injuries. At least six others involved were taken to area hospitals with various injuries. Right now, additional details about the accident are unavailable.
Commentary on 3-year-old Killed Truck Accident on Route 29 in Ellicott City
With a crash this devastating, it's important to clear up exactly what happened. Not only could there be important details the victims and families need to know, but simply having clear evidence is often necessary for ensuring there isn't any funny business that allows someone to escape responsibility for their actions. A truck said to have "hit the back of" another vehicle is obviously concerning, but without facts to clarify why that happened, trucking companies and insurance companies have all the room they want to shirk responsibility.
That's why I always tell folks how important independent accident reconstructionists are. For example, I had this crash involving a truck rear-ending traffic, and it was pretty darn clear the driver wasn't looking at the road. But when asked for his cell phone, the company claimed their driver didn't own one. Considering this happened less than 20 years ago, that sure seemed unlikely. But it took us putting together a lengthy and strategic deposition to trip the driver up in his own statements, causing him to let slip that he in fact had a cell phone. Only then could we get a court order for the records, proving he was using it at the time of the collision.
Whatever happened here isn't for me to say. Do I find it more likely that a truck hitting traffic is the result of a driver doing something wrong? Of course, but failing to consider other possibilities is dangerous for victims and families for two main reasons. One, quite simply, is that there could be unusual circumstances here the trucker couldn't avoid. Two, however, is that even if negligence took a child's life, those affected will need evidence to tell their side of the story. Are steps being taken here to ensure that as much of that evidence comes to light as soon as possible?
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