Gerald Weaver, Tara Weaver Killed in Semi-Truck Accident in Garden Township, MI
Garden Township, MI -- January 27, 2023, Gerald Weaver and Tara Weaver were killed following an accident where a semi hit their vehicle.
In initial reports, authorities said that the incident happened along US Highway 2 just before 4:00 p.m. It was said that 47-year-old Gerald Weaver and 46-year-old Tara Weaver were in a Toyota SUV traveling along the eastbound lanes of the highway. From westbound lanes, it appears a semi-truck somehow lost control and veered into the Weavers' lane, hitting their SUV head-on.
Due to the collision, both Gerald and Tara Weaver succumbed to fatal injuries. The semi-truck driver had injuries of unspecified severity. The exact cause of the crash is not clear at this time, though it can be seen in photos from the scene the road was wet, icy, or both. That no doubt played some role in all of this chaos, but it's important there is clear evidence of what exactly that role was.
Put simply, factors like a slick roadway can often be used to prevent victims and families from getting the clear answers they deserve as it provides a target for a defense, legitimate or otherwise. Not long ago, for example, a family came to me about a semi-truck that lost control on rainy roads, hitting and killing their loved one. That company tried to blame the rain, saying it was simply unavoidable. As ridiculous as that was, I've seen other, less prudent attorneys let weaker defenses slip by because they didn't take them seriously enough.
Through our investigations, we gathered GPS and ECM data as well as a clear investigation of the condition of the truck. Not only were we able to prove that the truck's tires were worn and needed to be replaced, but we also showed the truck was going fast enough that it likely would have lost control even on dry roads. Thanks to those findings, it was undeniable that the rain was merely a coinciding factor to the truck driver's more serious mistakes.
I don't want to suggest the same events happened here, but just about every crash I've had come across my desk involving slick roads involved a driver behaving recklessly given those conditions. Drivers are expected to go at safe speeds, maintain their vehicles properly, and otherwise act such that they maintain control of their vehicles during the inclement weather. That's true for all drivers, let alone supposed train professionals. As much as it's possible that something unusual that the truck driver couldn't avoid here, I can't help but wonder if these folks would have made it home to their loved ones had there been a more reasonably prudent truck driver behind the wheel.
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