Daniel Blashchishin Killed, 1 Injured in Tractor-Trailer Accident in Dublin Township, PA
Huntingdon County, PA -- March 1, 2023, Daniel Blashchishin was killed and one person was injured after an accident involving multiple trucks.
Investigators say the incident happened at the westbound Tuscarora Tunnel entrance along the state turnpike (I-76).
From initial reports, authorities said that 36-year-old Daniel Blashchishin was in a tractor-trailer going westbound on the turnpike. For reasons unclear at this time, the truck went into oncoming lanes where it crashed with a box truck, then hit a tractor-trailer, and finally crashed into the tunnel wall.
Due to the crash, Blashchishin sustained fatal injuries. It appears the box truck driver had minor injuries. Right now, additional details about the crash are still unavailable.
I've worked with many professional truck drivers over the years, and something I've come to appreciate is just how much they have to put up with on a daily basis to do their jobs safely. That's why I know that when I see crashes like this, it's important to consider all of those unique possible challenges. This could be anything from a cargo shift to tire failure to a medical emergency to poor working conditions to some other reckless driver not mentioned in the news.
However, a lot of people may be quick to just assume the victim did something wrong. Is that possible? Of course, but people don't generally need to hear that checking someone's cell phone records is important after a serious crash. What they often do need, though, is a lesson in just how complex commercial vehicles are and why there likely needs to be a thorough accident reconstruction before anyone will be able to really say what did and did not lead to this crash. If nothing else, the victim's loved ones deserve to know they're getting the full story.
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