Tractor Trailer Accident Leads to Deaths of Five Nursing Students
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 22nd, traffic in Georgia was start-and-stop as usual during the morning rush. Unfortunately, a tractor trailer failed to slow down during a stop in the highway traffic and caused a serious, multi-car pile-up that killed five nursing students.
The deadly tractor trailer accident occurred on Interstate 16 near Savannah, Georgia. Two passenger vehicles were mangled in the crash, and the tractor trailer eventually came to a stop after ramming into a tanker.
The tractor trailer failed to stop when an SUV came to a stop in traffic, then rolled over a small passenger car, which burst into flames, before finally hitting a tanker truck and coming to a complete stop.
All five of the women who died in the accident were students at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, about 30 miles from the crash site. The students were reportedly commuting to St. Joseph’s / Candler Health System for their final day of clinical training. There were eight students total on the commute – four died at the scene, one died at the hospital, and the other three are injured.
Georgia state patrol reported that 7 vehicles in total were damaged, and three other people suffered serious injuries due to the tractor trailer crash.
There was no fog or smoke on the road that morning that would have caused the tractor trailer driver to hit the SUV, but so far, the truck’s driver has not been cited or criminally charged, as the accident is still under investigation. Officials report that charges are pending.
“Today should have been a day of celebration for this bright group of students,” at St. Joseph’s/Candler hospital said in a Facebook posting. “It was their last day of clinical rotations … in their first year of nursing school.”
Tractor Trailer Accidents in South Carolina Can Be Deadly
Charleston, South Carolina is a major port town, which means that tractor trailers and 18-wheeled vehicles frequently travel the state’s roads. The average passenger vehicle weighs around 3,000 lbs, while the average tractor trailer with cargo can weigh 80,000 lbs.
While there are federal safety regulations for tractor trailers, 18-wheelers, and their managing companies, these drivers are often pushed hard for days of driving. They are stressed out and tired. On average, there are 500,000 tractor trailer accidents nationwide, and too often, they are catastrophic.
Any car accident can lead to serious personal injury, but the weight and speed of a tractor trailer in an accident often leads to severe burns, head and neck injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, an even death for the victims. The amount of compensation that a person injured or killed in a semi truck accident, car-truck accident, or trailer disconnect accident receives depends upon several facts, including the financial losses, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
The Strom Law Firm Advocates on Behalf of Victims of Tractor Trailer Accidents
If you have suffered severe personal injury due to a tractor trailer accident, or a loved one has died in such an accident, you may be eligible for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The South Carolina tractor trailer accident attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer a free case evaluation to discuss the incident, so contact us today for help. 803.252.4800
