Two Killed in Franklin County, AR, Ammunition Truck Accident
Franklin County, AR -- February 22, 2017, two people were killed due to an accident where a truck, hauling ammunition, crashed and caught fire on I-40.
The Arkansas State Police released a report containing preliminary details surrounding the accident. They say it happened around 2:15 p.m. just east of Mulberry.
According to their investigations, two people were traveling westbound along I-40W at the intersection of Lone Elm Road. Their identities have not been released.
Reports stated that the truck had to swerve in order to avoid another vehicle that cut it off. This caused the front right tire to experience a blowout, causing the vehicle to lose control. The vehicle swerved off the side of the road and crashed through a barrier, falling off an overpass. After crashing into the ground below, the truck caught fire.
The collision was severe enough that neither occupant could escape the wreckage, and they died at the scene of the accident.
Police reported no additional details. The other driver involved fled the scene. Investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
There are a lot of details surrounding this accident, and who could be liable depends on a lot of different factors. Witnesses corroborated that a car cut the truck off, but it would seem the tire blowing out caused the truck to lose control. Did the fire hit some debris coincidentally, or was the tire improperly maintained? Did the driver check his tires beforehand? Is his employer in charge of maintaining the truck?
Unfortunately there are a lot of unanswered questions here, and even more unfortunate is that the car that reportedly caused the accident hasn't been found. There will need to be thorough investigations to determine exactly what happened here and to ensure all responsible parties are held accountable.
--Grossman Law Offices
[jump]