California Injury Blog
Seluster Lane, 77, of Redwood City, was killed in a truck accident in Bakersfield early on the morning of March 29.
According to a KGET news report, the fatal truck crash occurred on Highway 99 just north of Merced Avenue.
California Highway Patrol officers who responded to the scene saw that Lane had been ejected from his vehicle. He died at the scene as a result of injuries he suffered in the collision.
Ongoing Investigation
Officers later determined that Lane’s minivan was stopped in the slow lane for unknown reasons. The minivan was hit from behind by the semi-truck causing Lane to get ejected. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured and remained at the scene. CHP officials say they don’t believe at this time that alcohol or drugs were factors in this fatal crash. The investigation is still ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Seluster Lane for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Large Truck Accidents: Statistics and Causes
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,119 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2019 nationwide. About 67% of the fatalities were passenger vehicle occupants. In fatal two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck, 97% of the deaths were occupants of the passenger vehicles. Large trucks were involved in 11% of all motor vehicle crash deaths and 22% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multi-vehicle crashes.
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what might have caused the truck driver to rear-end the victim’s stopped vehicle. We trust officials are looking into whether the driver was operating the big rig while drowsy or distracted.
Under federal Hours of Service rules, truck drivers are required to log their hours electronically and get adequate rest before getting on the road. These rules exist for the safety of not just truck drivers, but others on the roadway who could suffer devastating injuries in crashes caused by sleepy truck drivers.
Truck Accident Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver, his or her employer, and other potential parties. You may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of love, care, and companionship.
An experienced California truck accident lawyer will be able to advise you regarding your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/man-ejected-killed-on-hwy-99-identified/