Trucker Overturns after Falling Asleep at the Wheel in Caldwell County Missouri
Two people were injured in a Missouri truck accident when a tractor trailer overturned on highway US 36, 6 miles east of Hamilton, Missouri. The accident occurred on March 20, 2011 at 5:15am in Caldwell County, Missouri.
According the Missouri State Highway Patrol, truck driver Pablo Herrera-Torres of Las Vegas, Nevada fell asleep while operating a 2002 Freightliner Tractor-Trailer. As a result, the massive tractor trailer went off the road. As Herrera-Torres attempted to steer back onto the roadway, the tractor trailer overturned on the passenger side. The tractor trailer blocked the westbound lane of the highway when it finally came to a stop.
The truck driver was injured in the Missouri semi truck accident. Miguel F. Perez-Martiuez, an occupant in the tractor trailer, was additionally injured. Both men were transferred to the Cameron Regional Medical Center by Caldwell County Ambulance. Herrera-Torres was wearing his safety device. Perez-Martinuez was reportedly not wearing a safety device.
Drowsy driving is a significant Missouri truck accident cause. However, the specific number of Missouri 18 wheeler accidents caused by drowsy driving is difficult for researchers to discern. According to a report from the National Sleep Foundation, Missouri is the only state that does not include a fatigue or drowsiness code in its crash reports. Missouri removed its code years ago for an unspecified reason.
Missouri motor carrier regulations aim to decrease the number of Missouri truck accidents, fatalities, and injuries caused by drowsy truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) restricts the number of hours that a truck driver can operate a commercial vehicle before taking a break. Under current federal law, trucking companies are required to retain truck driver’s logs for half a year. Despite these laws, some truck drivers do not get enough rest to drive because of unrealistic schedules and the drive to earn more. Missouri truck accident attorneys can use driver’s logs as evidence in personal injury claims against motor carriers and their drivers.
If you are injured in a Missouri big rig accident with a drowsy truck driver, contact a Missouri truck accident attorney who will hold truck drivers and motor carriers accountable for drowsy driving.
