Gas Tanker Overturns, Closes Down Part of I-75
Early this morning, a gas tanker overturned near mile marker 121 on I-75 North, causing the tank to puncture and gasoline to leak all over the interstate. I-75 near Callahan Road in Knoxville was closed for a few hours while crews worked to clean up the spilled gasoline, and one lane of I-75 was reopened at about 10:30 a.m. The accident was reportedly caused when a Pontiac Sunfire blew a tire and was unable to get out of the left lane before coming to a stop. The driver of the Sunfire tried to get the attention of the driver of the gas tanker, now identified as John Stepp of Gate City, Virginia, but was unable to do so before it was too late. The tanker crashed into the Sunfire, causing it to flip and begin leaking gasoline. The driver of the tanker was transported to UT Medical Center and his condition was unknown at the time. The driver of the Sunfire was not injured.
This blog frequently discusses the adventures of big trucks on Tennessee’s roadways, due in large part to the fact that it is usually wrecks involving big trucks that make headlines. The dangers posed by such trucks are numerous, as shown in this situation by the fact that the driver of the gas tanker in this scenario either seemed to be unable to stop his truck upon noticing a hazardous condition in the roadway or was simply not keeping a proper lookout for potential obstacles in his path. If the driver was not keeping a proper lookout or the brakes on his truck were not functioning properly, any victims of such an accident would potentially be able to recover for their injuries from the truck driver and potentially the company that employed the driver as well as the company that manufactured the truck. Injuries in accidents involving big trucks are often severe and cause the victims to accumulate medical and other expenses that are much more substantial than any amount the truck driver is able to pay. Thus, victims should seek the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney who can help victims identify and maximize recovery from all potentially liable parties.
Source: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=130184&catid=2
