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Last month, a Pennsylvania truck driver was criminally charged in connection with a May, 2012 truck accident which occurred in Old Bridge, NJ. A Manalapan man was killed and his wife and young daughter seriously injured when the truck driver ran a red light and struck their car at 7:30 in the morning.
According to an online report, the truck driver may have been sleep deprived and under the influence of methamphetamines at the time of the accident. He’s been charged with aggravated manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault as well as one count of possession of a dangerous controlled substance.
Many truck accidents occur early in the morning. This is because truck drivers who have been driving all night are exhausted and sleepy in the morning. In addition, many truck drivers take illegal substances to help them stay awake. However, the reality is that taking illegal substances like meth or cocaine only compounds the effects of exhaustion, which include:
- poor judgment,
- slow reaction time,
- stress,
- fatigue,
- muscle weakness, and
- anxiousness.
All of these factors affect a truck driver’s ability to drive in a reasonably careful and cautious manner and in fact, increase the chance of an accident.
Truck accidents are almost always 100% preventable. In the blink of an eye, a commercial truck driver driving a tractor trailer can easily cause a fatal accident and ruin the life of an innocent family. If this truck driver was under the influence of meth, this tragedy will be yet another example of a preventable accident.
Related Legal Articles:
- Proving Intoxication in a Pennsylvania Truck Accident
- Common Claims Made in a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Trucking Accident Update: Truck Driver Rule Changes
For more information, contact our Pennsylvania & New Jersey truck accident lawyers.
**This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is crucial to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Published: July 4, 2012
*Source: www.nj.com, “Truck driver charged in Old Bridge accident that killed Manalapan man”, May 14, 2012
