SUMTER COUNTY, FL – Authorities were called to the scene of a deadly pedestrian accident on State Road 44 in Sumter County on Friday morning, WKMG reports.
The Florida Highway Patrol said it happened shortly before 6 a.m., when a male pedestrian tried to walk across S.R. 44 at County Road 229 near Wildwood.
The pedestrian entered the path of two westbound vehicles and was struck first by a Range Rover, then by a cement truck that was traveling behind it. The victim, whose identity was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Range Rover was a 42-year-old man, while the truck was driven by a 29-year-old man, both from Leesburg.
PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a collision in Pasco County Tuesday evening that left a motorcyclist dead.
According to Pasco News Online, the driver of a Mazda CX-5 was headed east on Tower Road and failed to yield to a southbound Suzuki motorcycle at the intersection with US-41. The Mazda turned left into the path of the motorcycle, resulting in a collision.
The motorcyclist, a 21-year-old man from Spring Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mazda driver, a 70-year-old Land O’Lakes woman, was not injured.
LAKE COUNTY, FL – A head-on collision in Lake County Wednesday morning left one of the drivers dead and the other injured, WKMG reported.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a 2018 Nissan Maxima was going eastbound on Schofield Road at about 6:30 a.m. when he crossed over the center line near 5 Mile Road.
The Nissan entered the path of a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, resulting in a crash. Both vehicles then overturned several times.
PASCO COUNTY, FL – A motorcycle and a garbage truck were involved in a fatal crash in Pasco County Monday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
According to a report by Pasco News Online, the collision took place in the area of State Road 54 and Monmouth Drive. The FHP said the driver of a westbound Waste Management garbage truck was trying to make a turn from SR-54 onto Monmouth Drive and crashed into an eastbound motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider died at the scene. He was a 51-year-old man from Lutz, authorities said. The truck driver, a 35-year-old resident of Spring Hill, was not injured.
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – An investigation is underway into a fatal accident that took place in Alachua County on Friday morning, according to WCJB.
The Florida Highway Patrol was called to the scene on County Road 219A southbound at about 4:50 a.m. Responding state troopers arrived to find that a 2001 Mazda truck had gone off the roadway and overturned.
The driver, a 47-year-old Hawthorne man, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time. No other vehicles were involved in the wreck
LAKE COUNTY, FL – A woman who was charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in Lake County has been sentenced to prison, the Villages-News reports.
Authorities said 32-year-old Tara Rene Schiessle of Lady Lake was the driver involved in the Sept 11, 2022 crash on Rolling Acres Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said Schiessle was driving a Jeep Cherokee Sport when she struck and killed a pedestrian, 40-year-old Jamie Weinz. Weinz’s male companion was also hit and seriously injured. Schiessle allegedly stopped briefly, then kept going after hitting the two victims.
According to investigators, Schiessle initially reported she had struck a deer. But the vehicle sought in the accident was linked to Schiessle after being tracked down to her apartment complex.
LAND O’LAKES, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Pasco County on Sunday morning.
Pasco News Online reports the accident happened on Ehren Cutoff near Tower Road in Land O’Lakes. According to state troopers, a 35-year-old Tampa man was going over the speed limit while riding south on a Yamaha motorcycle and lost control of the bike.
The motorcycle went off the road and hit a utility pole on the shoulder. The rider, whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.
FHP reports that the driver lost control of the car and “ruined 300 feet of guardrail.”
Fortunately, there were no crash-related injuries.
Semi-trucks are the backbone of commerce when it comes to moving goods across great distances and bridging the gap between companies and customers. Though they are vital to our economy, these massive vehicles also present serious risks on the road, especially when a driver loses control. Due to their size and weight, semi-truck accidents are frequently disastrous. Several conditions, such as poor driving, mechanical failure, inclement weather, and road hazards, can cause semi-truck accidents.
How Much Does a Semi Truck Weigh?
Depending on size, a semi-truck without a trailer weigh between 10,000 and 25,000 pounds. A semi-truck hitched up to an empty trailer weigh about 35,000 pounds. In the US, an authorized semi-truck with a loaded trailer can weigh no more than 80,000 pounds.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Driver error is one of the main reasons behind semi-truck accidents. The trucking sector continues to be plagued by driver fatigue and distraction, despite strict laws and significant training requirements. Driver fatigue brought on by extended periods spent behind the wheel can affect judgment and reaction times. Distractions that take the focus off the road, like cell phones or in-cab electronics, raise the risk of accidents.
Mechanical failure is another major contributor to semi-truck accidents. Despite having strict maintenance schedules, issues can still arise involving these vehicles. Tire blowouts, engine troubles, steering system malfunctions, and brake failures can all cause a driver to lose control, endangering everyone sharing the roadway. These dangers can be increased by poorly maintained trucks or insufficient inspections, which emphasizes the importance of routine maintenance procedures.
Poor weather conditions present severe challenges for semi-truck drivers. It can be challenging to drive such large vehicles safely through rain, snow, ice, and fog since these conditions can impair traction and visibility. Sudden gusts of wind, particularly in open regions or on bridges, can destabilize trucks, leading them to run off the road. Even if seasoned drivers are prepared to deal with bad weather, accidents can still occur from unanticipated events.
Road hazards pose additional dangers to semi-truck drivers. A truck’s trajectory can be affected by potholes, debris, uneven pavement, and construction zones, especially when travelling on highways at higher speeds. Failure to successfully maneuver these barriers can lead to a loss of control that result in catastrophic accidents.
How Can You Safely Share the Road with Semis?
To coexist on the roads with semi-trucks, you must pay close attention to your surroundings. Large blind areas, also called “no-zones,” may affect the truck driver’s view. These blind areas are in front of the cab, along the sides, and right behind the vehicle. It is imperative that drivers stay out of these spots since the truck driver might not notice them, which raises the likelihood of collisions. Instead, keep a safe distance and make sure you can see the truck’s mirrors; if you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, then the driver probably cannot see you.
Sharing the road with semi-trucks also requires a great deal of patience. These vehicles have slower acceleration and deceleration times than passenger cars. Give semi-trucks plenty of room when merging in front of them; do not cut them off. A fully loaded truck takes a lot longer to stop completely, so keep in mind that slamming on your brakes or changing lanes suddenly in front of them can have disastrous results.
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a crash in Alachua County on Sunday afternoon left seven people injured, the Gainesville Sun reports.
State troopers and rescue crews responded to the scene on Interstate 75 at the County Road 241 overpass at about 3:25 p.m.
It was determined that the incident began when the driver of a pickup truck tried to pass an SUV pulling a car trailer in the southbound lanes of I-75. The left side of the pickup hit the right side of the SUV’s trailer, causing the SUV to collide with a tractor-trailer that was parked along the roadway at mile marker 396.
