Bees Swarm After Truck Accident on I-80
I’m Ed Smith, a Roseville truck accident lawyer. A November 2 single vehicle crash along Interstate 80 resulted in bees being released along the roadway. Traffic was closed down in the vicinity of the crash while the bees were killed by spraying them with soapy water.
What Happened
The crash occurred near Nevada and Andrews streets when traffic along the highway stopped suddenly because of police activity, according to the Auburn Police Department. The driver of a semi said he was forced to swerve his truck away from the freeway to avoid a serious crash with other vehicles and ended up crashing his truck just off the freeway. At that time, the bees, numbering in the millions, that he was transporting from Montana in boxes loaded on a flatbed trailer to be used in pollinating almond trees in the Central Valley were spilled. The police reported that the actions of the semi driver might have saved the lives of others along the road. The driver of the semi received minor injuries from the crash.
Beekeeper Called in to Handle Spill
A beekeeper who was called to the accident scene to deal with the situation said that the accident occurred in the late night hours, and rain was on its way, leaving no recourse but to humanely destroy the bees. The trailer load of bees were valued at $1 million to $2 million dollars. The fire department in Auburn was called to assist with removal of the bees.
Multiple Car Accidents
Although, in this case, the trucker acted in a way that saved others from being hurt in a multi-car crash, that does not always happen. Multiple car accidents account for 33 percent of all car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distraction is the number one cause of multiple vehicle collisions. Once the initial accident happens on busy highways with little room to move, the remainder can occur quickly. Aside from direct rear end collisions, the possibility for several cars to hit a single vehicle exists as does the threat of fire.
Reasons Why Multiple Vehicle Collisions Happen
Being unaware of traffic patterns such as the vehicle ahead slowing can cause a multiple car collision. Some reasons this happens are:
- Speeding: Due to highway speed limits, this is a common reason.
- Weather Conditions: Wet or ice-covered roads can make traction poor resulting in hydroplaning, and vehicles easily can go out of control.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol and drugs, both legal and illegal, can slow reflexes, and give drivers a false sense of perception.
- Fatigue: The number of drivers who say they have fallen asleep at the wheel is high, particularly on highways with little change of scenery. Falling asleep, even for a few seconds, can result in an accident.
- Mobile phones: Talking on the phone, texting and checking messages all contribute to failure to watch what is happening on the road.
Injuries in a Multiple Vehicle Accident
At highway speeds with several or many cars involved, the types of injuries are broad. One of the most common is cervical spine damage due to the impact of a rear-end crash, particularly when a heavy truck is involved. Depending on the force of impact, chest and abdominal trauma can also occur. In cases where a fire breaks out, disfiguring burns are common.
Roseville Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Roseville truck accident lawyer. If you have been involved in a multiple car accident or if someone you love was killed, turn to an experienced injury lawyer for help. The complexity of such accidents make it daunting to go it alone. Phone me at (916) 921-6400 locally or (800) 404-5400 outside of the Roseville area.
I have assisted many Roseville and Northern Californians over the years since 1982 to deal with catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injury and wrongful death.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates from California. This forum is one where trial attorneys are accepted only if they have won cases of $1 million or more.
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