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Father of Four Killed in Nebraska Semi Truck Crash

By Brett Emison

ABC news affiliate KETV has reported that Mark Wagner, a father of four, was killed when his vehicle was crushed by a tractor trailer that jackknifed on highway 92.

Saunders County, Neb. -- A man who died Monday night in a Saunders County crash had just watched the birth of his fourth child six days before.

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Wagner's wife called the Saunders County Sheriff's Department Monday night when he didn't return home to Wahoo at his usual time. He worked for Flynn Heating and Air Conditioning in Valley.

"She was asking us if we had any accidents that we knew about in the county because her husband was late arriving home," said Chief Deputy Bob Thorson. "And obviously there had been an accident."

Just before 6 p.m., Thorson said, a tractor-trailer heading east on Highway 92 jackknifed on the slick surface and took out three cars.

Wagner was in the first car the rig hit. The 37-year-old was bucked in, Thorson said, but he had no chance.

"The road was very treacherous. I came through there just before the accident," he said.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mark Wagner's wife and children. No family should have to endure such a needless tragedy.

Too many people have been killed by semi truck crashes and trucking accidents.

Nationwide, large trucks (known as tractor trailers, semi trucks, eighteen wheelers, diesel, big rigs, or commercial trucks) make up only about 3% of the vehicles on the road. However, they account for far more traffic fatalities. For example, in Missouri, semi truck crashes make up as much as 15% of traffic deaths. In Illinois, tractor trailer crashes cause more than 10% of traffic deaths.

The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") lists the following as some of the most common causes of big rig accidents:

• Poor Driver Training

• Driver Fatigue (Tiredness)

• Speeding

• Overloaded Trucks

• Oversized Trucks

• Brake Failure

• Poor Driving Conditions

• Driver Inexperience

• Failure To Yield The Right-Of-Way

• Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol Or Drugs

• Aggressive, Dangerous Or Reckless Driving

• Mechanical Failure (Or Improper Maintenance)

• Defective Parts (Such As Defective Steering Or Brakes)

Truckers and trucking companies must be mindful of each of these trucking accident causes.

Why was this truck driver driving in such dangerous conditions? It is much more difficult to maneuver an 80,000 pound rig in icy conditions than a typical passenger vehicle. Trucking companies owe it to innocent drivers and passengers to park their tractor trailers when weather conditions become too dangerous. Truck drivers owe it to themselves -- and other innocent drivers -- to park their semi trucks when weather conditions are too dangerous.

These companies need to quit putting profits over safety. Do they think there is a separate set of rules for them?

Visit our trucking accident web site to learn more about trucking accident safety or trucking accident investigation.

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Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brett Emison

Full post as published by Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer on December 20, 2009 (boomark / email).