Tractor-trailer Runs Red Light, Causes Multiple-vehicle Crash

semi-truck driving head-on toward man in car

According to The Aspen Times, a five-vehicle crash involving a semi that tipped over left one man trapped in his truck in El Jebel, Colorado, on Thursday afternoon.

Crash under Investigation; No Citations Issued

The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 82 and Willits Lane at around 12:14 p.m. local time. An eastbound semi-truck was driving on Highway 82 when it ran through a red light. A GMC pickup truck attempting a left turn from Willits Lane was struck by the 18-wheeler and pushed into a Ford SUV.

The Aspen Times reports that the SUV struck a Toyota pickup head-on as a result of the initial collision. The cab of the GMC pickup was crushed by the semi’s crane, pinning the driver inside his pickup. In addition, sheetrock from the semi-trailer landed on top of the pickup, creating a difficult extrication scenario.

Emergency crews were able to remove the man from the truck with some help from local construction and stone supply businesses, reports The Aspen Times. After nearly 30 minutes, the man was freed and taken to the hospital with only minor injuries. The man’s 5-year-old daughter, who was also in the truck, was taken to the hospital as well.

A passenger in the semi sustained injuries and required hospitalization. Nobody in the Toyota pickup or Ford SUV were injured in the crash. The contents of the semi-truck littered the intersection, including an estimated 100 gallons of fuel and around 100 sheets of sheetrock.

Police have not issued any citations in the trucking accident, and the crash remains under investigation, reports The Aspen Times.

Trucking Accidents Statistics

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

  • In 2014, 3,903 people died in crashes involving large trucks.
  • An estimated 111,000 people sustained injuries in crashes involving large trucks in 2014.
    • Occupants of other vehicles made up 74 percent of these injuries.
  • Large trucks accounted for eight percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2014.

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