Yuba City Trucker Sentenced in 2016 Fatal Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City truck accident lawyer. A trucker who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in the 2016 death of an Oroville man was sentenced to probation on November 9 in superior court for Butte County.
2016 Accident Details
The accident happened on Highway 99 near Chico when a 30-year-old trucker from Yuba City, Ranjeet Thind, encountered slow moving traffic in the northbound lanes near Meridian Road. Thind traveled into the southbound lanes of 99 in an effort to avoid a collision, according to a representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at the time.
The truck crashed into a pickup driven by an Oroville resident, Eric Thomas, 53, who was heading south on the highway. The impact caused the pickup to burst into flames, trapping Thomas inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the accident site. According to an investigation at the time of the crash, drugs or alcohol was not involved in the accident.
Sentencing
Leonard Goldkind, a Butte County court commissioner, who presided over sentencing, did not impose a jail sentence although imprisonment for up to 12 months was possible. However, Goldkind did say that if Thind violated the terms of his probation, a jail sentence might be on the table in the future. The commissioner remarked that sentencing in a case such as this was difficult since it was linked to an accident. Thind’s case will be reviewed in one year.
Safety Practices Truckers Must Follow
According to a trucker safety website, truckers must be prepared to handle changes in traffic flow on the roadway. Monitoring both speed and the necessary stopping distance are ways to avoid accidents. Speed is an often-cited reason for truck accidents on highways. In order to reduce the number of speed-related crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has asked that electronic devices be placed on trucks to limit their speed. The devices would be mandated in trucks and buses over 26.000 pounds and would set a maximum speed for the vehicle. The limiter bill, as it is called, has not been approved by the legislature as of the time of this report.
Stopping Distance
The distance a truck needs to stop varies according to its weight. There is a significant difference between a fully loaded truck and an unloaded truck. Truck drivers use a formula to calculate stopping distance when the driver perceives that slowed traffic is ahead. Factors that are included are:
- Reaction distance
- Brake lag distance
- Effective braking distance
- Vehicle weight
A fully loaded truck traveling at 60 mph usually requires the length of two average football fields to stop. Knowing this in advance gives truckers a clear idea of the distance they must maintain between them and other vehicles on the road. Bad weather, nighttime, road condition, curves or hills all modify the distance the truck will need to stop.
How Weather Affects Stopping Distance
Truckers know that wet or icy weather can affect the distance it will take to stop. When traction between the truck’s tires and the pavement is lost, such as happens on wet roads or when the truck encounters icy conditions, the trucker may lose control if the brakes are applied. Knowing how to maneuver under such conditions is essential to avoid accidents. Using engine brakes in such weather can further complicate the situation.
When a Trucker Fails to Use Safety Measures
Driving too fast on a highway or secondary road or not being prepared when traffic slows reflects negligence behavior. Truckers are taught to be hypervigilant since an accident with a large truck often results in passenger vehicle fatalities. Head on collisions between a big truck and a smaller vehicle are almost always fatal due to catastrophic injuries such as burn injuries when the passenger vehicle catches fire.
Yuba City Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City truck accident lawyer. Accidents between a big rig and a passenger vehicle can result in the death of a family member or horrific injuries. When this happens, it is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer at your side. Reach out to me anytime at (530) 392-9400 in Yuba City or (800) 404-5400 outside of the toll area. When you do, I will provide friendly and free advice.
I’ve practiced law for more than 35 years. During that time, I have helped many Californians, including those in Yuba City. I’ve resolved claims for wrongful death as well as accidents involving pedestrians or brain injuries.
I was selected to enter the Million Dollar Advocates. This is an organization that inducts trial lawyers who have resolved cases for $1 million or more.
If you would like to know more about me, go to Google, Avvo and Yelp to read comments by both clients and peers.
Check my settlements and verdicts page to see some of the results I’ve provided clients.
Stay where you are, and explore this website, AutoAccidents.com. I established it to give clients a place to learn about personal injury law.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/autobahn-accident-germany-car-road-
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