Highway 20 Closed after Tanker Crash

I’m Ed Smith, a Marysville Truck Accident Lawyer. A large truck pulling a tanker trailer full of gasoline and diesel fuel flipped over and spilled on Thursday, September 7.

What Happened?

Jose L. Gonzalez, a 51-year-old man from Sacramento was heading east on California State Route 20, away from Marysville. Sometime before 7:00 a.m., west of Plantz Road, Jose started to drift towards the southern edge of the road and into the oncoming lanes. A sudden shift in the center of gravity caused Gonzalez to lose control of the 2011 Peterbilt big rig and overturn after crashing into an irrigation ditch that ran alongside the highway.

The tractor trailer was transporting 7,000 gallons of gasoline fuel and 1,500 gallons of diesel in a separate compartment. The impact of the crash and overturn compromised the integrity of the transport tanks and caused enough fuel to spill into the ditch for the California Highway Patrol to declare the area a hazardous material scene. Officials taking care of the accident closed down the entire section of the highway for the duration of the cleanup to reduce the risk of igniting the spilled fuel.

Paramedics took Jose Gonzalez to a hospital after he suffered major injuries in the truck accident. Upon further investigation, the California Highway Patrol do not suspect alcohol or drugs to have played a part in the cause of the crash.

Transporting Liquids

The physical nature of liquids can make them more difficult to transport safely. The fluidity of liquids causes them to shift around a lot more when being moved. When transported in a vehicle; stopping, accelerating, and turning causes the liquids to slosh back and forth and side to side. These rapid changes in weight and center of gravity can throw the tractor and trailer around if extreme enough. A full container has little to no room for movement and is actually more stable than lighter loads.

Tanker trailers also tend to hold their cargo higher than normal trailers which give them a higher center of gravity. Some tanks have a baffle system which separates the tank into many smaller chambers and reduces the amount of movement of the liquids and makes them easier to control. Easy acceleration and gradual braking also make it easier to maintain control. Slow rounded turns reduce the side to side surges which can cause a truck to overturn much like what happened on Highway 20.

Marysville Truck Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Marysville Truck Accident Lawyer. If you have been affected by or involved in a truck accident please call my office for help at 530-392-9400 or 800-404-5400 for free, friendly legal advise. I have been working for accident victims in Northern California, including the Marysville area, for 35 years.

My website, autoaccident.com is one of the most educational sites for people seeking advice on car accidents, wrongful deaths, personal injury, dog bites, and many other areas. Check out my previous verdicts and settlements page to see how I have helped others with their cases.

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Sources:

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article171934572.html
https://content.statefundca.com/safety/safetymeeting/SafetyMeetingArticle.aspx?ArticleID=689
Image Source: HAZMAT Tanker Trailer Separated from its Tractor, born1945, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

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Highway 20 Closed after Tanker Crash