As the two 18 wheelers passed through the area near the town of Castaic, CA the Norco Ranch semi in the back rear-ended the leading semi trailer truck near Templin Highway.

Shortly after 6:00 a.m. Monday morning two semi trailer trucks were traveling south on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County, CA. The first semi had markings and logo for Norco Ranch. Norco Ranch is based in Norco, CA and it is believed that the trailer was loaded with a cargo of eggs. The first semi was reportedly carrying bread. The trailer trucks were not traveling together.

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As the two 18 wheelers passed through the area near the town of Castaic, CA the Norco Ranch semi in the back rear-ended the leading semi trailer truck near Templin Highway. The impact of the truck accident reportedly damaged at least one of the fuel tanks and the two semi trucks burst into flames. The fire quickly engulfed the two rigs, spreading to the refrigerated trailer on the Norco Ranch truck. The fire also spread to the grassy area in the immediate vicinity of the truck accident.

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California Highway Patrol and local emergency technicians responded to the scene of the truck accident. The two unidentified truck drivers were able to exit the cabs of their truck. Their injuries were reportedly minor and neither man was transported to a hospital.

Firefighters battled the flames on the 18 wheeler trucks using water and foam to put out the fires. They also worked to extinguish the flames on the nearby grassy area, which reportedly affected about an acre of land.

CHP shut down a section of Interstate 5 surrounding the truck accident, including three traffic lanes, backing up traffic for several hours in the area around Castaic, CA. Highway crews were brought in to clear the debris from the roadway and remove the disabled semi trucks. One of the trucks had to be lifted onto another trailer before being removed from the interstate.

At this time no charges have been brought against the second driver and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police troopers look over the tragedy Friday morning, July 9, after the 18-wheeler in the background smashed into a Dodge truck on the right, killing its four passengers on I-59 near the state line. (Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

At about 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, 37 year old Juan Torres of Montgomery, Texas was driving a 2003 Freightliner semi trailer truck north on Interstate 59. The truck bore the logo and markings of Texas International Express LLC, based in Humble, TX.

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As Mr. Torres was driving through St. Tammany Parish near Pearl River the left front tire on his 18 wheeler truck blew out and caused him to lose control of his rig. The tractor trailer crossed over the median of the interstate and entered the southbound lanes of the highway, directly in the path of oncoming traffic. The semi trailer truck slammed head-on into the driver’s side of a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 57 year old Daniel Dickson of Carriere, MS.

The semi trailer truck slammed head-on into the driver’s side of a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 57 year old Daniel Dickson of Carriere, MS.

After the initial impact of the collision the semi tractor trailer and the pickup truck both skidded across the interstate and ran off the road. Both vehicles finally came to a stop in the trees growing along the west side of I-59. Three of the pickup’s occupants were thrown from the vehicle during the crash.

Debris from the truck accident flew through the air striking at least one other vehicle traveling on the interstate, a 2005 Mercedes driven by 39 year old Jessica Garcia of Gretna, LA, damaging her windshield.

Louisiana State Police and area emergency personnel responded to the scene of the truck accident. They found that the driver of the Dodge pickup, Mr. Dickson, suffered fatal injuries in the collision and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The three passengers in the Dodge also were fatally injured and died at the scene of the truck accident. Two of the victims were identified as 76 year old Evan Farrugia and 35 year old Thomas Farrugia III, of Carriere, MS. The third victim was not identified.

The truck driver, Mr. Torres, sustained minor injuries in the truck accident and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities also ran a toxicology test on the truck driver. The tests are being reviewed at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and the results have not been released at this time. They do not believe alcohol was a factor in the deadly crash.

LSP Officers reconstructing the truck accident have determined that the truck driver was wearing his seat belt, but three people in the Dodge pickup were not wearing safety restraints. Commercial trucking investigators are trying to determine if the tractor trailer truck had all necessary equipment and that it was installed and working at the time of the collision.

The truck driver has been charged with Careless Operation of a Vehicle and four counts of Negligent Homicide. He was arrested and taken to the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

The truck accident remains under investigation.

Lower Valley firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the truck accident site.

At about 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning 51 year old Steve Easdon of Denver, CO was driving a semi trailer truck east on Interstate 70 in Mesa County near the city of Fruita. The truck driver worked for Cast Trucking based out of Denver, CO, which was the destination of the semi truck.

At the same time a Toyota sedan was driving several cars behind the semi trailer on the interstate. According to witnesses the Toyota sedan had three men in it and had California license plates. Officials have not released the identity of the three men.

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According to a Fruita Police Officer, at around Mile Marker 20 on the interstate the Toyota sedan passed a car that was traveling behind the semi truck. The Toyota passed the other car on the right side and at that point the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle.

The Toyota hit the back rear tire on the driver’s side of the semi truck. The truck driver, Mr. Easdon, told investigators that the sedan hit the 18 wheeler truck about three times before driving into the center dividing median. According to the truck driver, the out of control Toyota sedan slammed into two of the truck’s tires and hit the fuel tank, knocking the cap off.

After the truck accident the Toyota then drove over several lanes of westbound traffic on the interstate before finally coming to a stop. One of the passengers was thrown from the sedan and the driver and the other passenger were trapped in the crushed car.

A westbound van, driven by an unidentified man from South Carolina, swerved to avoid hitting the Toyota sedan and slammed into a second westbound semi trailer truck.

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Lower Valley firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the truck accident site. They used tools to extricate the two trapped men from the Toyota. Once free they treated and stabilized the victims before transporting them to nearby St. Mary’s Hospital. The passenger who was thrown from the car landed in the highway median and was also taken to the hospital.

The driver of the van suffered injuries to his neck in the truck accident and was also taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment. The condition of the four men taken to the hospital has not been released at this time.

Mr. Easdon and the driver of the second semi involved in the truck accident were not injured in the multi vehicle crash.

Police shut down all westbound traffic lanes on I-70 while emergency personnel treated the victims and highway crews cleared the debris of the wrecked vehicles off the roadway. Traffic was diverted around the accident scene for about ninety minutes before the lanes were reopened.

At this time investigators have not determined why the Toyota went out of control or if the driver was impaired.

No charges have been brought yet and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Both drivers suffered fatal injuries in the truck accident and pronounced dead at the hospital.

At around 5:48 a.m. Friday morning, 49 year old Raul De La Torre of Dodge City, KS was driving a 2010 Freightliner semi trailer truck east on U.S. Highway 50/56 in Ford County. The truck driver was about a half mile east of Wright when he encountered a westbound 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by 22 year old Steven A. Hornung of Offerle, KS.

For unknown reasons, the driver of the pickup truck drifted over the center line of the highway directly into the path of the semi trailer truck. The driver of the 18 wheeler truck saw the smaller vehicle heading toward him and pulled his rig to he left in order to avoid a collision. However the driver of the pickup, Mr. Hornung, then pulled back into his own lane and was again in the path of the semi trailer truck.

At this point there was no time or space to maneuver out of the way and the truck driver slammed his Freightliner head-on it the Chevy Silverado in the westbound lane of U.S. 50/56. The impact of the truck accident apparently damaged at least one of the fuel tanks and the two vehicles burst into flames.

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Kansas Highway Patrol and local rescue personnel rushed to the scene of the fiery truck accident. Firefighters found both vehicles engulfed in flames and worked to put out the fires so EMTs could reach the two victims. Once the men were removed from the wreckage of their burnt vehicles they were both transported to Western Plains Medical Center in Dodge City.

Both drivers suffered fatal injuries in the truck accident and they were pronounced dead at the hospital.

KHP blocked off the area around the truck accident so crews could clear off the highway and officers could reconstruct the collision. According to information released to the public, authorities are not sure if either man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. They are still trying to determine why Mr. Hornung crossed over the highway dividing line. It is not yet known if drugs or alcohol were factors.

The truck accident remains under investigation.

Local firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene of the fiery truck accident.

Late Tuesday night, shortly before midnight, 41 year old Marcus Trask of Selma, CA was driving a 2004 Sterling semi trailer truck south on Highway 99 and had pulled over onto the west shoulder of the highway just south of Lander Avenue. It is not known why the truck driver had stopped on the shoulder.

Mr. Trask reportedly signaled his intention to pull back into traffic on the highway. A second truck driver, 56 year old Jaime Henriquez of Fresno, CA, saw the signal and slowed his 2005 Freightliner semi trailer in order to allow the first driver to reenter the highway.

An unidentified third truck driver in a 2007 Freightliner who was behind Mr. Henriquez apparently did not notice that the 18 wheeler had slowed down and slammed into the truck, setting off a chain reaction collision. The third semi truck accident shoved Henriquez’s Freightliner into the first semi truck that was merging into traffic. The impact broke open at least one of the trailers and cargo spilled out onto the highway.

The force of the truck accident crushed the cab of the third semi truck and apparently damaged one of the fuel tanks. The truck burst into flames which quickly engulfed the entire 18 wheeler truck. The fire then spread to the second semi trailer truck and the grass alongside the highway.

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Local firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene of the fiery three truck accident. The unidentified driver in the third semi suffered fatal injuries in the collision and fire and was pronounced dead at the scene by officials of the Stanislaus County Coroner’s office.

Turlock firefighters fought the burning semi trucks and eventually put out the flames. They were recalled to the scene of the truck accident when some of the spilled cargo began to flare up and quickly put out the fire.

The two other drivers, Mr. Trask and Mr. Henriquez, reportedly sustained minor injuries in the truck accident. According to California Highway Patrol the two men told officers that they did not need transport to a hospital and would obtain medical help on their own.

CHP shut down all southbound lanes of Highway 99 in the vicinity around the multi truck accident. The traffic lanes would remain closed for several hours while officers conducted a reconstruction of the accident and crews removed the wreckage of the burnt Freightliner tractor trailer. The highway was finally cleared and all southbound lanes reopened at about 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

According to authorities, all three truck drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the chain reaction collision. They have not determined if drugs or alcohol were factors and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Many of the cows were roaming up and down the highway by the time Michigan State Police and emergency workers responded to the incident site.

As the semi trailer truck moved through Algoma Township the driver swerved and lost control of his 18 wheeler. According to Michigan State Police, they believe the truck driver was trying to avoid hitting a deer or several deer that were in the roadway.

The out of control semi truck crashed into a guardrail at the side of the highway and apparently slid along the rail for quite a distance before the tractor trailer went off the highway and overturned alongside US 131. No other vehicles or persons were involved in the truck accident.

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The impact of the truck accident broke open the trailer of the rig and the cows began to escape from the cattle hauler. Many of the cows were roaming up and down the highway by the time Michigan State Police and emergency workers responded to the incident site.

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The driver suffered some minor head injuries but was able to remain at the scene of the truck accident and give information to the authorities.
MSP found it necessary to close down both the southbound and northbound lanes of US 131. They diverted Wednesday morning commuter traffic off the highway at 14 Mile Road as drivers were having potentially dangerous encounters with the animals. According to an MSP officer this was done to avoid the serious consequences when a car or truck hits an animal such as a cow or a deer. One woman with two children in her vehicle flipped her car when she veered to miss a stray cow. Fortunately she and the children suffered only minor injuries.

The traffic lanes would spend several hours trying to recapture all the cows and get them off the highway. When they were finished four cows had been injured and had to be put down and five cows remained on the loose. Authorities believe the missing cows were far away from the highway. MSP said that drivers on US 131 and 14 Mile Road should remain alert for the five missing cattle and to let authorities know if they are sighted.

MSP has not charged or cited the driver at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Eight vehicles and a semi, which erupted into flames were involved in an accident on OH 13 just south of Olivesburg-Greenwich Rd in Huron County Thursday July 1, 2010. Photo by Tom E. Puskar

At around 11:50 a.m. Thursday nine vehicles were stopped in a northbound lane of Ohio 13 at Baseline Road in Huron County, OH. The vehicles were stopped due to a road paving project. A semi trailer truck carrying a load of food products and driven by 50 year old John S. Fahrni of Navarre, OH came up upon the stopped vehicles but was traveling too fast to avoid a collision.

The semi tractor trailer slammed into the back vehicle in the line which set off a chain reaction, with each vehicle crashing into the vehicle in front of it on the line. The semi truck hit six of the nine stopped vehicles. After colliding with the stopped vehicles, the semi tractor trailer went off the road on the right side and then went into a field along the highway. The tractor trailer finally came to a rest and then exploded into flames.

Local fire teams and emergency personnel responded to the scene of the truck accident. While firefighters fought the flames shooting off the trailer truck, EMTs treated the victims of the multi vehicle collision. The truck driver sustained serious injuries in the truck accident and was stabilized at the site before being transported to Mansfield MedCentral Hospital in Mansfield, OH.

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According to the Ohio State Patrol at least 15 other people were injured in the truck accident and two victims were taken by Life Flight medical helicopters to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, OH.

OSP officers shut down a section of northbound Ohio 13 while the emergency teams worked and officers conducted a reconstruction of the truck accident. Highway crews were at the site to clear the debris off the roadway and removed the disabled vehicles from the traffic lanes. A large wrecker was brought in to remove the burnt wreckage of the semi tractor truck.

Investigators have not determined why the semi tractor truck did not stop before slamming into the line of stopped vehicles. No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

The impact of the truck accident caused both vehicles to crash into the embankment. The car was almost completely crushed while the cab of the semi truck was turned backwards.

Shortly before 8:00 a.m. Monday morning, 28 year old Jaswinder Singh of New Jersey was driving a semi trailer truck south on Route 33. Mr. Singh was driving a semi truck registered to Ryder Truck Rental based in New Jersey. At the same time 21 year old Paul Miller of Scranton was driving a 2002 Toyota Corolla north on Route 33.

At about 7:55 a.m. as the semi trailer truck passed through the town of Saylorsburg Mr. Singh apparently lost control and crossed over the grassy median and into the northbound lane directly in the path of Mr. Miller’s car. Neither of the drivers were able to maneuver to avoid a collision and the 18 wheeler truck slammed head-on into the passenger car.

The area surrounding the truck accident was closed for several hours while EMTs aided the victims and State Police reconstructed the incident. Highway crews worked to clear the wreckage.

A large van carrying twelve people was traveling north on the highway and crashed into the trailer of the semi truck after the initial collision. According to police four of the van’s passengers were children.

The impact of the truck accident caused both vehicles to crash into the embankment at the side of the highway. The car was almost completely crushed while the cab of the semi truck was turned backwards.

Pennsylvania State Police and local emergency workers responded to the scene of the truck accident. Mr. Miller suffered fatal injuries when the semi truck hit his car head-on and he was pronounced dead at the accident site.

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The driver and front seat passenger in the van, Jose Emilio and Maria De Leon, suffered serious injuries in the truck accident. They were treated and stabilized at the scene before being transported to a local hospital. According to police the other ten passengers in the van suffered a variety of injuries considered minor and not life threatening.

The truck driver was not injured in the multi vehicle collision.

The area surrounding the truck accident was closed for several hours while EMTs aided the victims and State Police reconstructed the incident. Highway crews worked to clear the wreckage of the three vehicles and clear any debris from the traffic lanes. All lanes on Route 33 were reopened at about 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.

At this time authorities have not determined why the truck driver crossed over into the northbound lanes of Route 33.

No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Emergency personnel responded to the truck accident and treated the truck driver and the driver of the Honda, Mr. Ash, for minor injuries.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, 47 year old Guillermo Martinez of Hialeah, Florida was driving a 2000 Freightliner semi truck north on Interstate 5 in Kern County, CA. As the truck driver was traveling down the Grapevine Pass his brakes caught on fire and he lost control of the 18 wheeler truck. As the trailer truck descended the hill it picked up speed and was believed to be traveling at about 85 MPH.

California Highway Patrol was alerted to the runaway semi truck and took actions to prevent accidents. A CHP patrol car was positioned in the path of the out of control trailer truck in an attempt to slow the rig. The officer got out of the car and began to divert traffic out of the northbound lane.
The speeding semi truck crashed into the back section of the CHP vehicle, pushing the patrol car into a 2009 Honda Pilot driven by 66 year old Albert Ash of Eureka, CA. The Honda crossed over all lanes of the interstate and flipped over on the right shoulder of the highway. The semi hit the CHP car again and the force of the truck accident sent the patrol vehicle across the interstate. The cruiser slammed into the concrete center divider where it finally came to a stop.

CHP shut down a section of I-5 surrounding the truck accident scene while crews cleared debris from the roadway and tow trucks were brought in to remove the CHP cruiser and Honda.

After colliding with the CHP car the Freightliner tractor trailer continued in the northbound lanes of I-5 for about another mile. The truck driver, Mr. Martinez, attempted to slow the out of control semi trailer and bring it to a stop. However, when he attempted a turning movement he flipped the semi truck and it rolled over onto its side on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Emergency personnel responded to the truck accident and treated the truck driver and the driver of the Honda, Mr. Ash, for minor injuries. A CHP officer sustained moderate injuries in the incident and all three were transported to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, CA.

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CHP shut down a section of I-5 surrounding the truck accident scene while crews cleared debris from the roadway and tow trucks were brought in to remove the damaged CHP cruiser and the Honda Pilot. Another team worked to upright the overturned Freightliner semi and to remove it from the site.

The impact of the truck accident also damaged a fuel tank and a Haz-Mat team from Caltrans was there to clean up the spilled diesel fuel.
All northbound lanes reopened at about 12:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

At this time non charges have been brought pending the completion of the truck accident investigation.

Wolcott police shut down a section of Highway 24 surrounding the truck accident site while emergency personnel treated the victims and investigators reconstructed the collision.

Shortly before 8:00 a.m. Monday morning, 33 year old Timothy Pritchett of Hopkinsville, Kentucky was driving his semi trailer truck on Highway 24 in White County, IN. As he drove through the town of Wolcott, he apparently lost control of his 18 wheeler truck and crashed into a mini van driven by 50 year old Jeffrey Hendress of Wolcott, IN. According to police Mr. Pritchett may have been speeding when he broadsided the van.

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The force of the truck accident crushed the minivan and pushed it over onto its side, trapping the driver, Mr. Hendress. The trailer on the 18 wheeler broke open and spilled a great deal of its cargo out onto the roadway.

Wolcott Police and Firefighters and Emergency Medical personnel from Monticello responded to the truck accident scene. Rescue workers would take about twenty minutes cutting through the destroyed mini van to reach Mr. Hendress. Once extricated from his vehicle Mr. Hendress was treated and stabilized at the scene and then transported to St. Elizabeth East Hospital in Lafayette, IN with injuries to his right arm and left leg. He was later transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and at last report was listed in fair condition.

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The truck driver, Mr. Pritchett, suffered injuries to his left arm and shoulder in the truck accident and was taken to Clarian Arnett Hospital in Lafayette. He received treatment for his injuries and was released from the hospital sometime Monday afternoon.

Wolcott police shut down a section of Highway 24 surrounding the truck accident site while emergency personnel treated the victims and investigators reconstructed the collision. Highway crews were brought in to clean up the spilled cargo of the semi trailer truck and remove the wreckage of the two vehicles.

Highway 24 would remain closed for several hours, backing up traffic for about miles.

Police and accident investigators have determined that the truck driver, Mr. Pritchett, was speeding when he slammed into the minivan. It is not known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the truck accident. The truck driver was given a citation for speeding.