Though it happens all the time, we seldom think about the dangers that come from having vehicles of all different shapes, weights and sizes on the road together at the same time. We take for granted that giant tractor-trailers can share the same roadways with teeny Smart cars. We’re typically only confronted with the disparities between vehicles when a terrible accident occurs. When a semi truck barrels into a compact car, we realize that size, at least when it comes to vehicles, matters a great deal.
A good example of the damage that can result from this kind of crash happened just this week in Natchez, Mississippi. Police say that the accident, which involved four separate vehicles, occurred near the Natchez Fire Department #2. Though the accident was terrible, it was ideally located, allowing emergency responders at the fire department to go and help almost immediately. In fact, the firefighters say they were alerted to the crash by someone knocking on the door, not through emergency dispatch.
Police haven’t said what started the chain reaction crash that occurred just before 4 o’clock in the afternoon, but it ended with a garbage truck sitting on top of a sedan. Witnesses say that the passenger vehicle was crushed by the garbage truck, seemingly flattening it beneath its immense weight. When nearby drivers ran to the vehicle, they spotted the driver of the sedan bleeding and crying for help. He was waiving his arms trying to have someone extract him from the accident scene. Firefighters cut him out of the car and eventually airlifted him to a nearby hospital for treatment. Another driver in the pileup was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Officials say that it’s a miracle the man in the sedan survived the crash. Given the extent of damage suffered by his much smaller vehicle and the incredible weight of the garbage truck, most didn’t expect him to live. Though he is alive, his injuries are likely severe and it will take a considerable amount of time to recover from such a harrowing accident.
The wreck showcases the kind of damage that can come from such size and weight imbalances on the road. Large tractor-trailers can weight as much as 80,000 pounds, or 40 tons. Compare that to most passenger vehicles which weigh only 3 or 4,000 pounds, so one or two tons. This disparity makes drivers in the smaller vehicles far more vulnerable than those in the larger, commercial vehicles and accident statistics, sadly, bear this out.
If you have been injured in a Mississippi car, motorcycle or tractor-trailer accident and think you may have a personal injury claim, please contact the Mississippi personal injury attorneys at Kilpatrick & Philley at 601-707-4669.
Source: http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2017/06/28/man-airlifted-after-garbage-truck-crushes-car/