Alleged Drunk Semi-Truck Driver Strikes, Kills Motorist
According to the Tribune-Star, a man was killed after his pickup truck was hit by a semi driving in the wrong direction near Cayuga, Indiana, on Thursday night.
Details of Fatal Trucking Crash
Michael J. Leach and his 10-year-old son were driving north on Indiana 63 south of Cayuga when the fatal crash occurred. At around 6:45 p.m. local time, Leach’s pickup truck was struck by a tractor-trailer driving south in the northbound lanes, colliding head-on.
The wreck happened at a curve in the road near the entrance to the Cayuga fairgrounds, reports the Tribune-Star. Leach, 47, was killed in the crash. His son was hospitalized and treated for minor injuries before being released to his family.
The Tribune-Star reports that the semi driver, 41-year-old Kamaljeet Sangra, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated resulting in death. Sangra is being held without bond in Vermillion County. Lanes were closed as accident reconstruction was ongoing by the Indiana State Police.
Trucking Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,903 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2014. In addition,
- An estimated 111,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2014.
- In 2014, an estimated 438,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes.
- Occupants of other vehicles made up 73 percent of the fatalities in large-truck related crashes in 2014.
- There was a 19 percent increase in the number of injured occupants of other vehicles involved in large-truck traffic crashes from 2013 to 2014.
- Large trucks accounted for eight percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2014.
