There is no question that winter weather can be a serious hazard to drivers on the road. While some motorists are careful when navigating the streets in wind, rain, ice, snow, and fog, others fail to slow down and drive carefully in these inclement weather conditions. This reckless driving can result in tragic car accidents, injuries, and deaths in Maryland and throughout the country.
A winter storm involving freezing rain resulted in catastrophic accidents in Baltimore and approximately 377 reported accidents across the state. It was this weather that caused a tanker truck filled with gasoline to catapult over the edge of a bridge and erupt into flames while traveling northbound on I-95. Two people died as a result of the tractor-trailer accident, and 13 others were injured. Surprisingly, this accident was not an isolated incident. That same night, another fatality occurred when a man jumped over a highway wall as he was running from an accident scene. Then, a 15-car pileup occurred just 45 minutes later.
Onlookers said that vehicles traveling at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour were sliding on the ice and skidding out of control. The gasoline-filled tanker started a chain reaction, which involved 67 cars. Although ice was named as the main cause of the tanker truck accident, law enforcement is still investigating other possible causes.
The aftermath of a large truck accident can be devastating. People who have been involved in such a collision may want to speak to a personal injury attorney regarding their rights to compensation.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Three killed as winter storm wreaks havoc across region; I-95 tanker crash part of 67-vehicle pileup in city,” Colin Campbell, Kevin Rector, Dec. 17, 2016.