Mail Truck Accident in Napa
On Thursday, July 13, 2017, a single-vehicle accident hospitalized a government worker and caused major traffic for residents of Napa and commuters in the area. The reported details about this collision can be read in the article below.
What Happened?
According to initial reports from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on Highway 29 near American Canyon when a United States Postal Service truck overturned and spilled a full load of mail across the highway. CHP indicated that they did not know for certain what caused the collision.
Injuries and Response
After receiving reports of an overturned vehicle on Highway 29, CHP dispatched emergency personnel to the site of the incident. When responders arrived, they found that the driver of the mail truck was still in the driver’s seat and had sustained traumatic injuries. Medical officials called for an ambulance and the man was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency care. The specific nature of his injuries was not reported, but CHP indicated that his injuries were not life-threatening.
Major Traffic Delays
The wreck initially blocked both northbound lanes of Highway 29 and the blocking of the main commuter highway eventually caused miles of traffic gridlock. According to Sgt. Patrick McMahon of the American Canyon Police Department (ACPD), the situation was “horrendous” and caused traffic to come to a standstill through all of American Canyon and into Vallejo. McMahon noted that, in order to exit the jam, people were illegally performing U-turns through the median of the highway.
Cleanup and Diversion
CHP initially began diverting commuters to South Kelly Road, but soon the traffic situation required a larger detour, and those caught in the traffic were told to use I-80 in order to enter Napa through Jameson Canyon on Highway 12.
USPS told reporters that they would be collecting all of the mail spilled in the collision and transferring it to another truck for delivery. Cleanup of the wreck lasted throughout the day and the northbound lanes of 29 were not opened until the late evening.
Collisions with Government Entities
If you have been hurt in an accident involving a government entity such as a Postal Service vehicle, it is important to file a claim as soon as possible. Those filing a lawsuit against government entities are required under both federal and state law to do so within 180 days from the date of the accident. This timeframe is much shorter than the one by which individuals must file other personal injury claims, which is typically two years. More about the details of collisions with government entities can be read on our website.
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Napa Car Accident Lawyer
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