Diesel Truck Involved Accident on Highway 321 in Lincoln County, North Carolina

LINCOLN COUNTY, NC- Wsoctv.com writes that a stretch of Highway 321 was closed over the weekend after a diesel truck tipped over in the early morning hours. Traffic was being redirected to avoid the area.*

The driver was trapped in the vehicle and needed to be cut free. He was airlifted to the hospital, and his condition is not currently known. Police say that the crash led to 7,700 gallons of diesel fuel being spilled onto the roadway. The investigation is still ongoing, and the cause of the crash is not yet known.

Large trucks create a number of risks to others on the road. These vehicles weigh far more than passenger vehicles, are difficult to stop quickly or maneuver, and can be carrying extremely dangerous substances. 

Because of the risks at play, drivers need special permits and licenses in order to operate these vehicles. The professional drivers who operate large trucks are often on the road for extended amounts of time. Legally, they can drive for stretches up to eleven hours at a time. These drivers can drive longs hours for days in a row as well. The extensive amounts of time behind the wheel can make it challenging for drivers to stay alert. Driver fatigue can lead to inattentiveness, which can have fatal results. 

For other drivers on the road, it is important to give plenty of space to these larger vehicles and to remember their limitations when it comes to slowing down or swerving to avoid a crash. When a vehicle cuts off a large truck, the truck driver may not be able to do anything to avoid being involved in a collision.  

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/highway-321-in-lincoln-co-shut-down-after-gas-tanker-crashed-officials-say/999255284