Satien Marie Vest Killed, Randy Trefz Hurt in Accident in Phelps Co., NE
Phelps County, NE -- A head-on collision in the area of Phelps County, Nebraska left 26-year-old Satien Marie Vest dead, and injured 63-year-old Randy Trefz Wednesday, February 22, 2017.
The incident took place on Highway 183 around 10:30 p.m.
The report claims the vehicle occupied by Ms. Vest was headed north on Highway 183 when it collided with a southbound tractor-trailer. The collision killed Ms. Vest at the scene of the incident. Mr. Trefz was taken to a nearby hospital with undisclosed injuries, however, he was treated and released.
The incident left a large portion of the area closed for several hours.
The investigation is currently underway.
The preliminary press release provided no more information.
map of the area
Commentary
The details provided by the report are slim here. We can reasonably presume one of the two vehicles crossed the center line, leading to the deadly collision. After litigating hundreds of truck accident cases, I can tell you from experience, the facts in this accident are only going to become more muddy.
Why do I say this? Well, some trucking companies are notorious for influencing the outcome of investigations to paint their drivers as if they are without fault. By the time an accident has occurred, these companies have already sent out a team of very aggressive defense lawyers, bent on encouraging the accident report to favor their client.
Am I implying this is the norm? Not at all. In fact, most trucking companies and their drivers operate with great care and safety. That's what makes the few that act unscrupulously such a blight on the trucking community. But, that won't stop those few bad seeds from doing all they can to protect their bottom line.
It's too early to say who was at fault in this accident. Hopefully, a more thorough investigation into this crash will provide important information as it concludes.
--Grossman Law Offices
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