Personal Injury Law

Gower, Missouri man killed when pickup crashes into tractor-trailer

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Johnny Roberts, 23, was killed and another man was seriously injured Saturday when the pickup truck they were riding in collided with a tractor-trailer on Route B.

The accident occurred as Roberts? pickup came over the crest of a hill on Route B. According to the highway patrol, a tractor-trailer, driven by David Jones, 66, was entering Route B from a gravel road and was blocking most of the roadway. Roberts was unable to stop and the pickup slid partially under the trailer, striking the front axle.

Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, Scott Labrozzi, 39, was taken to Heartland Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

While Roberts was the one that struck the tractor trailer, he may not necessarily be at fault in this accident. There is precedent for cases where a vehicle is stopped over the crest of a hill where it is not visible to other motorists. In some cases, the act of being stopped in this manner is negligent because other drivers will have no chance of avoiding an accident as they pass over the hill.

It is not known whether Jones laid down any road markers to warn other motorists that he would be blocking the roadway.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on September 06, 2008 (boomark / email).