Teen Injured in Collision with Box Truck near 7th St and US-41 in Terre Haute, IN
Terre Haute, IN — January 19, 2023, a 16-year-old driver was injured in a collision with an allegedly-impaired box truck driver on Seventh Street in Terre Haute.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Seventh Street and U.S. Highway 41. The exact circumstances of the crash aren't known yet, but witness interviews suggest the accident was allegedly caused by the box truck driver failing to yield to the victim's passenger vehicle.
The entrapped teen was extricated by firefighters and then transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The truck driver was unhurt, but was reportedly arrested on suspicion of operating the truck while impaired.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
If reports have their facts straight it seems the truck driver in this accident is suspected of being under the influence when he crashed into that girl's vehicle. There isn't a person on the road who doesn't know DWI is illegal and dangerous, so the idea that a supposed professional might have done so anyway is both troubling and hugely frustrating. Some may think his arrest and eventual day in court more or less handle the consequences to come, but things may be a little more complex than that.
Some may not see how that could be true; if anything they may believe that an impaired truck driver would be easier to hold accountable. However, experience has taught me to look at the entire context of the crash and all its potential factors. It's always important to know (and prove) the whole story, both to answer any lingering questions and to make sure there's less room for dispute or confusion if that driver's employer tries to tell a different version of events.
What I mean by that last is that most companies have strong incentives to protect themselves against suggestions of wrongdoing whenever possible. That means sending out their own investigators, arguing with police reports and victims' accounts, and generally doing whatever they can to minimize or even escape liability. It's best never to take such a company's cooperation for granted no matter how straightforward a crash seems. Click below to read more about some of the hurdles victims might face.
