Semi Truck Driver Falls Asleep at Wheel, Causes Fiery Two-truck Crash

According to WLFI, a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing a crash between two tractor-trailers in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, on Monday afternoon.

About the 18-wheeler Crash

The semi-truck crash occurred on Interstate 65 North, just south of the State Road 38 exit at around 1:00 p.m. local time. Tim Wright, 50, was driving a semi hauling water bottles when he fell asleep at the wheel.

Officials say Wright suddenly woke up and found that he was driving toward a bridge. WLFI reports that the driver over corrected and jackknifed his truck, blocking all northbound lanes. The water bottle hauling semi was then hit by a semi carrying a diesel fuel tank that was unable to stop in time for the jackknifed truck.

WLFI reports that the water bottle semi caught on fire after the collision. Lloyd Moore, 48, the fuel tanker driver, was able to move his truck away from the blaze to avoid any further disasters. Officials report that neither driver was injured in the crash.

Trucking Accident Statistics

The following information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 3,903 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2014.
• An estimated 111,000 people suffered injuries in crashes involving large trucks in 2014.
• An estimated 438,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes during 2014.
• In 2014, large trucks accounted for 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes.