A pickup truck that was disabled due to a flat tire triggered a series of events that led to a serious chain reaction of trucking accidents on the New Jersey Turnpike. The accidents began when a tractor-trailer that was following immediately behind a disabled pickup truck came to a stop, causing the tractor-trailer to plow into it.
The force of the rear impact dislodged the storage container that the second truck was carrying. A fourth tractor-trailer then collided with the fallen storage container and overturned, completely blocking all lanes of traffic. A 61-year-old man from New York who was driving the third truck suffered the most severe injuries in the crash and was taken by helicopter to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. His 17-year-old son, who was also in the truck at the time of impact, suffered less severe injuries and was transported to the same medical center as his father.
The drivers of the other tractor-trailers, one from Iowa and the other from Rhode Island, also suffered minor injuries and were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The 100+ combined-year-old driver whose flat tire initiated the series of accidents was unharmed, and so far no one was charged with responsibility for the incident. The four-truck pileup caused the New Jersey Turnpike to be closed for approximately four hours, resulting in a major backup which also spilled over to impact several connecting roads.
Individuals who were seriously injured in a trucking accident may need help to seek fair compensation for their injuries. Woodbridge attorneys working in the area of personal injury may help clients use applicable laws to reach fair settlements.