Man Killed in Truck Accident on Highway 165 in Merced County, CA
Merced County, CA -- December 5, 2022, a man was killed in , due to an accident where a truck crashed into his vehicle on Highway 165.
Authorities said that the incident happened at around 5:45 p.m. along Highway 165 near American Avenue.
It appears that a 28-year-old man was in a vehicle waiting to make a left turn off the highway. While waiting, authorities say a tow truck rear-ended the man's vehicle. This sent the car into oncoming lanes where it crashed with a big rig.
The unidentified driver of the car sustained fatal injuries due to the crash. No other injuries were reported. At this time, additional details are unavailable.
Commentary on Fatal Truck Accident on Highway 165 in Merced County
To be rather blunt, a tow truck rear-ending someone waiting to make a left turn is almost always a sign the driver wasn't paying attention to the road. Could there be some highly unusual factor such as sudden brake failure? Certainly, and a proper investigation would catch that sort of thing. But even when the more likely explanation is that the truck driver screwed up, folks must ensure they have as much clear evidence telling their side of the story as possible.
At the end of the day, insurance companies have one priority: minimize their losses. With commercial vehicles, they're only going to have more experienced professionals working to that end. If victims and families aren't prepared for the hurdles those professionals put in their way, they may find that even seemingly straight-forward events become complicated fast. That's why I have concerns reading about serious truck wrecks like this. A man lost his life here, and experience tells me the crash scene was more than chaotic. Making sure the truth comes to light likely means ensuring there are experienced independent accident reconstructionists getting the family the facts they need.
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