Brian L. Hunter Injured in Truck Accident in Pierceton, IN
Kosciusko County, IN — November 12, 2023, Brian Hunter was injured as the result of a commercial truck accident at around 10:00 p.m. along U.S. Highway 30.
Preliminary details about the accident are scarce at this time. These current details, according to InkFreeNews of Northern Indiana, are from a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office crash report. As such, this information has not yet been officially confirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt until more information from authorities becomes available.
Those details say that 47-year-old Brian Hunter was the driver of a Dodge Dart going westbound on U.S. 30 in the area of State Route 13. In a series of events unclear, a semi-truck reportedly rear-ended Hunter's Dodge Dart. As a result, Hunter was apparently taken from the scene via helicopter.
In the details I'm reading, it's alleged that the truck driver told authorities that Hunter hit his brakes "too quickly" after a traffic light changed to red. However, it's said numerous witnesses countered this, saying the light had been red, and the truck driver allegedly "made no attempt to stop" leading up to the collision.
Right now, it's unclear if any charges or citations are being considered. There isn't much public information about this crash at all, as a matter of fact. But if it's true authorities spoke to numerous witnesses who can verify what happened here, there could be serious consequences forthcoming. I just hope authorities actually took the initiative to ensure they can follow up with those witnesses later on when it comes time to prove their allegations.
Here's why I always have that concern reading about crashes like what's described here. I had this personal injury truck wreck case a while back in which a truck driver was being reckless and caused a serious crash. They then fled the scene. Fortunately, a couple who witnessed the accident followed the truck, wrote down the truck's information, then went to the police. That should have been the end of things, but somehow the officers at that department lost track of the information—including the names and contact info of the witnesses. So months later, despite being handed evidence on a silver platter, they couldn't find the truck driver.
Fortunately, when the family contacted us for help, we were able to circulate the details in local media, and those details found their way to the original couple who witnessed the crash. Once again, they were able to identify the truck, and it was only then that the driver was identified and brought to answer for their actions.
I'm not suggesting that happened here. Rather, it's a cautionary tale I offer people to illustrate the importance of ensuring authorities are handling a serious truck wreck properly. Usually, when authorities have witness statements, they record them, keep track of the witnesses, and ensure they're able to revisit that testimony later on. Other times, whether through a lack of experience, personnel, or training, officers can make mistakes. It can take quick thinking and significant effort to make sure those mistakes don't add to the burden victims and families already have to bear in these situations.
