TRUCK ACCIDENT FAST FACT: According to TruckInfo.net, Texas ranks among the top five states for the most truck accidents. The others are California, Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

(Photo credit: NewsChannel10.com)

Professional truck drivers miss stop signs usually either because they are tired or distracted by a cell phone, gps, radio or a variety of other distractions. I have helped  families who have been involved in Texas truck accidents. My heart goes out to the families of those listed in critical condition in what I believe was a needless collision.

Florida Today reports an accident involving three semi trucks around 3:30am on Thursday, December 29 near the Volusia County city of Port Orange, Florida. Representatives of the Florida Highway Patrol said a semi truck first spilled a load of logs onto Interstate 95 at mile marker 257. A passenger car carrying three women then struck the logs. A semi truck transporting methyl bromide then rear-ended the log truck. A U.S. Postal Service semi was also ensnared in the accident. The women in the passenger car (ages 42, 16 and 14) were transported to Halifax Medical Health Center with minor injuries. The driver of the methyl bromide truck, hailing from Neptune Beach, Florida, died in the accident. The driver of the postal truck suffered minor injuries. Officials closed the highway for some time due to fire damage.

MySanAntonio.com reports a tractor-trailer accident that left one person dead on Thursday night, December 29 at 7:14pm in Victoria, Texas. According to representatives of the Texas Department of Public Safety, a Volkwagen Beetle at Texas 91 and U.S. 59 was hit as the driver of a tractor-trailer tried to make a u-turn. A 38 year-old female occupant inside the Beetle was declared dead at the site of the accident.

NBC29.com reports a tractor-trailer accident that injured three people on Wednesday, December 28 around 6:30am in Albemarle County, Virginia. The accident occurred on Rockfish Gap Turnpike as a tractor-trailer pulled onto the road and collided with a sport utility vehicle. The occupants of the SUV were transported to Virginia Medical Center with injuries and are expected to recover. Charges stemming from the accident are pending, according to police.

LDNews.com reports a tractor-trailer accident that killed one person on Friday, December 30 at 3:08pm in Berks County, Pennsylvania. According to a coroner, a 40 year-old woman from Muhlenberg Township died as a result of chest injuries sustained in the accident. A produce tractor-trailer rear-ended the woman’s car while traveling on Route 222 near Broadcasting Road. Both drivers lost control of their vehicles after the collision, striking a SUV and another car and catching fire. A 60 year-old woman and 3 children under the age of 10 were transported to Reading Hospital via ambulance. One side of Route 222 remained closed for 8 hours following the accident.

WTOL.com reports a tractor-trailer accident that occurred on Sunday, October 23 around 10:37pm in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio. According to police, a tractor transporting a hay trailer overturned after traveling off the right of Patten-Tract Road near Bogart Road. 28 passengers were hurt and some were ejected from the trailer. Two passengers from Castalia were air lifted to Toledo for treatment. The Ohio State Highway patrol arrested the 47 year-old driver of the tractor-trailer for driving under the influence of alcohol.

KGW.com reports a semi-truck accident that occurred on Monday, October 24 in Hillsboro, Oregon. Investigators said a semi-truck transporting cars failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a train at Washington and 10^th street. Eight people were injured, seven of which were taken to a local hospital. Police said the semi-truck driver would receive a citation for failure to obey a traffic control device.

NorthJersey.com reports a dump truck accident that occurred on Monday, October 24 around 8:00am in Riverdale, New Jersey. The dump truck struck eight vehicles at the base of a hill on south Route 23 just north of Route 287 and flipped. According to the police chief, the dump truck driver said his brakes failed but an inspection disputed his statement. Five people were injured and received neck and head injuries. They were being treated at Chilton Hospital.

Your Houston News reports an 18-wheeler accident that occurred after 2:30pm on Thursday, October 20 in Cleveland, Texas. A semi truck traveling on northbound US 59 rear-ended a Dodge Ram truck that then struck a Chevy van. The accident happened on the San Jacinto River bridge. A 38 year-old male occupant of the truck was ejected and suffered major injuries to his shoulders and head. He was airlifted to a hospital in Houston and was listed in stable condition. The Michigan-based driver of the 18-wheeler received a citation for failure to control speed.

WHIOTV.com reports a semi-truck accident involving a school bus on Wednesday, September 14 around 8:30am in the Clark County city of Hustead, Ohio. A semi-truck driven by a 25 year-old male driver rear-ended a bus as it stopped to let a student onboard on U.S. 68, north of State Route 794. The driver of the bus and some students received minor injuries as a result of the crash. The semi-truck driver was charged with Failure to Maintain Assured Clear Distance Ahead.

KENS5.com reports an 18-wheeler accident that occurred on Thursday, September 15 around 7:00pm in the Bexar County area of San Antonio, Texas. According to officials, an 18-wheeler and a pickup truck were traveling along Loop 1604 near De Vilbiss Lane when the big rig collided with the truck, overturning on top of the pickup. The pickup truck driver was killed.

WILX.com reports a semi-truck accident that occurred on Sunday, September 18 shortly before 1:00pm in the Clinton County city of Eagle, Michigan. According to authorities from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, a semi-truck rear-ended a motorcycle on Interstate 96, causing the driver & passenger to be thrown from the bike. One woman was killed, and one man was listed in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing following the accident.

Boston.com reports a tractor-trailer accident that occurred on Monday, September 19 in Medford, Massachusetts prior to 3:20pm. According to representatives from the State Police, a tractor-trailer lost a tire as it traveled along south Interstate 93. The tire entered the northbound lanes and struck a Ford Mustang, seriously injuring the driver inside of the car. The car came to a rest on its side near Exit 28. The top of the vehicle sustained major damage.

The Indy Star reports a semitrailer accident that occurred on Friday, June 17 in Richmond, Indiana just prior to 1:30pm in the afternoon. A husband and wife were rear-ended by a semitrailer on Interstate 70 as they stopped for a vehicle transporting a wide load. The initial impact moved the couple’s car underneath another semi-truck. The man and woman were airlifted to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio due to injuries.

Mlive.com reports a six-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on Friday, June 17 in Eagle Township, Clinton County, Michigan. A semi-truck driver rear-ended a couple in a pickup truck at 10:34am as traffic backed up in a construction zone on Interstate 96. The pickup truck then struck 4 additional vehicles, injuring 3 adults and 3 children. A husband and wife in the pickup were transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and were listed in serious & critical condition as of Sunday.

Wfrv.com reports a tanker truck rollover accident that occurred on Sunday, June 19 in Ashwaubenon, Brown County, Wisconsin just prior to 3pm.  A tanker truck driver traveling north on Highway 41 lost control of the vehicle. The truck then crossed a median and came to a rest on its side in the south lanes of the highway. According to representatives from the sheriff’s department, two people in another vehicle were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. The driver of the semi-truck also suffered injuries.

News West 9 reports an accident involving a SUV and a semi-truck that occurred on Sunday afternoon, June 19 in Midland, Texas. A semi-truck traveling east on Interstate 20 attempted to change lanes near mile marker 139 and it clipped the SUV, leading it to roll over. The SUV driver was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

ABC reports a milk truck accident that left three people injured on Saturday, May 21 at 2:30am in northeast Harris County, near Sheldon, Texas. Investigators stated that an 18-wheeler veered onto the right shoulder of Highway 90 as its driver reached for an item in the cab. The Borden semi truck struck two wrecking trucks on site to assist a disabled Chevrolet, forcing the Chevy down an embankment. A passenger of the Chevy was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital for injuries. The drivers of the tow trucks were also injured.

KSL.com reports a semi truck accident that occurred on Friday afternoon, May 20 in Brigham City, Utah. An 18-wheeler truck leaving Sardine Canyon suffered brake failure as it tried to turn right on Main Street. Due to the brake issue, the truck tipped, striking two cars. It then rolled over and hit another vehicle, as its contents fell out into the streets. Two drivers had minor injuries. Though the investigation is not yet completed, officials said they would issue citations.

The Patch reports a crash including two semi trucks on Wednesday, May 18 at 2:16pm in New Lenox, Illinois. A woman died near Interstate 355 and Interstate 80 after her car was struck in the rear by a semi truck. The initial impact forced her vehicle to strike a second semi truck in another lane.

The Quincy Herald Whig reports a three-vehicle accident on Thursday, May 19 at 11:30am near Atlas, Illinois. According to Illinois State Police, a tractor-trailer truck going west on U.S. 54 jackknifed as it approached a construction area with congested traffic. The 2001 Peterbilt truck hit two Ford vehicles, seriously injuring two women who were transported to Pike County Memorial Hospital. The semi’s brakes were out of service, and the semi driver received multiple citations.

KRGV reports a tow truck accident that occurred on Wednesday, May 11 at 9pm in McAllen, Texas. According to police, a bus was traveling on Highway 77 near Victoria when a tow truck pulled out in the path of the bus, injuring 21 people and killing 1. The truck driver was given a citation for failure to yield the right of way.

DL Online reports an accident involving a semi tractor-trailer rig on Friday, May 13 at 5:43am in Frazee, Delaware. According to DL Online, the driver of a 1993 Ford Tempo slowed for a deer on East Main street when he was rear-ended by a 2003 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer. The driver of the Tempo was freed from the wreck by the jaws of life and was taken to the hospital for back and neck injuries.

The Seattle Times reports a fatal semi-truck accident that happened on Tuesday, May 10 at 3:30am in Arlington, Washington. A Honda Accord with 2 occupants was rear-ended by a semi-truck on Interstate 5 near 172^nd Street. A 75 year-old female passenger in the Honda was killed and an 87 year-old male driver was airlifted to the hospital with injuries.

The Green Bay Press Gazette reports a 12-vehicle crash including a semi-truck on Wednesday, May 11 in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Patrol said traffic had slowed on US 41 near Richmond Street for construction when a semi-truck driver failed to stop and hit the vehicles that had slowed and come to a stop. Seven people were injured in total, with one transported by air to the hospital for serious injuries. Traffic between Wisconsin 441 and 47 was closed for over 4 hours.

NewsOn6.com reports a utility truck accident that occurred early Monday morning on March 21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Police say that the utility truck was turning east across Memorial onto the BA Expressway when it and a Nissan Sentra collided. The driver of the utility truck was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Three occupants of the Nissan Sentra were taken to local hospitals for treatment. One female was listed in serious condition, while two males were listed in critical condition.

The Orlando Sentinel reports a tractor trailer crash that occurred on Sunday, March 20 in Lakeland, Florida. According to police, a pickup truck was going east on New Tampa Highway around 12:30am when a tractor trailer entered the road from a warehouse. The  two vehicles collided as the truck was straightening out. As a result, the pickup truck became lodged beneath the tractor trailer. The driver was trapped and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. A passenger in the pickup truck was taken to a local hospital for injuries.

TheRepublic.com reports two truck-related  fatalities in the Philadelphia suburb of Exton on Saturday, March 19. According to officials from Uwchlan Township in Chester County, a delivery truck was traveling south on Route 100 when it struck two people at approximately 5:21am. The individuals were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

KFOX 14 reports a pedestrian fatality in El Paso, Texas that occurred on Friday, March 18 during rush hour. According to police, a man was crossing the road at Gateway North and Paisano Drive close to 5pm. A semi-truck struck the pedestrian, pinning him between tires near the semi-truck’s cab. According to police, a commercial-truck investigation unit checked the semi-truck for potential faulty parts that may have contributed to the crash.

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The Star-Telegram reports that an 18-wheeler struck a motorcyclist on Interstate 20 at Matlock Road in Arlington, Texas on February 10 around 4:20pm. Upon impact, the driver of the motorcycle fell onto the shoulder of the interstate and was later pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The 18-wheeler continued driving from the scene.

NorthEscambia.com reports a semi-tractor wreck on February 11 in Molino, Florida near Escambia county. The driver of the semi-tractor pulled out of Molino Road directly into the path of a Toyota Camry, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The semi-tractor driver was cited for violation of right of way. The driver of the Camry and 2 teen passengers were injured.

WZZM reports that a snow plow truck struck a teen around 12:45am in Fruitport Township, Muskegon County Michigan on Sunday, February 13. The 19 year old had pulled over on U.S. 31 after his vehicle ran out of gas. He was returning a gas can to his trunk when a passing snow plow truck struck the car, knocked it into a snowbank and dragged the young driver approximately 20 feet. The driver was found dead when police arrived at the scene.

MSNBC reports that a tractor-trailer sideswiped a school bus on Tuesday, February 8 around 2pm on Mississippi Highway 8, approximately one mile from Calhoun City. Immediately following the sideswipe, the tractor-trailer veered into a second head-on collision with another bus. Three adults were killed and seventeen students were taken to a hospital for injuries. One student was airlifted by helicopter.

WHPTV.com reports that a dump truck carrying 24 tons of road salt was in a five vehicle crash on Friday, February 11 at 9:51am. The crash occurred on I-81 South in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, PA. The dump truck rear-ended one car, leading to the pile up.The truck rolled over onto a Volvo driver, who was trapped inside and died. Three other people were taken to local hospitals for injuries.