In the early morning hours on October 13, 2014, a multi-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike near Woolwich Township resulted in one fatality. The multi-vehicle crash involved a tractor-trailer, a pick-up truck and a utility truck. The southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike were closed, and the closure went as far north as Mt. Laurel, NJ as a result of the tragic multi-vehicle accident. *Source: www.nj.com (1 killed in New Jersey Turnpike crash in Woolwich Township)
According to New Jersey State Police, the pick-up truck rear-ended a tractor-trailer. The rear-end accident overturned the tractor-trailer truck which led to the second collision where a utility truck slammed into the overturned tractor-trailer. The driver of the utility truck died at the scene of the motor vehicle accident on the NJ Turnpike. One of the other two drivers sustained minor injuries and the other driver was fortunately uninjured.
About a week before the above accident, another rear-end accident also ended in a fatality in New Jersey. Like the above accident, it also happened in the early morning hours. An 18 year old man from Bridgewater, NJ was stopped at a red light at an intersection when his pick-up truck was struck in the rear by a Mack truck. The impact from the rear-end collision caused the pick-up truck to burst into flames, killing the driver. The Mack truck driver was from Arizona. *Source: www.mycentraljersey.com (Bridgewater man dies in fiery car crash in Green Brook)
NJ motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks often result in serious accidents and fatalities, as evidenced by the above 2 accidents. When accidents happen on a highway, such as the New Jersey Turnpike, accidents often lead to a second or even third collision.
Though the above accidents are still under investigation, there are several possible causes as to why these types of accidents happen. Both accidents happened in the early morning hours and were both rear-end accidents. It is possible that the drivers that rear-ended the vehicles in front of them were fatigued. For instance, the Mack truck driver is from Arizona; he may have been driving for long hours for work and was dozing off at the wheel. That may be why he didn’t see that the car ahead was stopped at a red light.
It is also possible that the drivers did not cause the accidents and that the brake systems in the trucks malfunctioned, preventing them from stopping in time. In such situations, injured victims and their families may be able to bring lawsuits against the truck manufacturers for the faulty brake systems.
Families of deceased drivers/passengers have legal rights. They should consult with a NJ truck accident lawyer to explore their legal options. FREE consultations. 800.281.8695
More from our NJ Car Accident Legal Library:
- NJ Rear-End Accidents-Who is at Fault? Rear-end collisions and car accidents are common throughout New Jersey cities such as Southampton and Mt. Laurel. New Jersey law requires all drivers to maintain a safe following distance…
- NJ Truck Accidents Caused by Fatigue – By a Southampton, NJ Truck Accident Lawyer Truck accidents happen frequently in New Jersey, especially on highways near Mt. Laurel, Southampton or Marlton, NJ such as the NJ Turnpike, Route 295 or Route 206. Trucks can rear end other cars on the highway or cause head on collisions if the trucks travel into other lanes…
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