6 vehicles and one jackknifed trailer on Massachusetts Turnpike
Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles; they have several names, but no matter what you call them they still are very powerful vehicles. A large truck requires a heightened amount of attention to drive. They are powerful and yet surprisingly unstable vehicles. Even a slight movement can cause big problems.
Take for example jack-knifing. Slamming on the breaks too quickly can cause the trailer on a truck to skid to the side of the vehicle uncontrollably. This occurred earlier this month on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
The accident occurred on June 5 at approximately 9 in the morning. The report was unclear as to what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, but it was clear to anyone at the scene that it had happened. The tractor-trailer involved in the crash was found to have jackknifed on the roadway.
Not only was the large commercial vehicle involved in the accident, but there were another six automobiles involved as well. The road had been shut down for several hours before crews were able to clear enough debris to open them back up to through traffic.
A little or even a large traffic jam isn’t the real problem in these cases. This accident report did not mention whether anyone was seriously hurt, but these types of collisions often involve significant injury.
When a truck accident injures one or more people, a personal injury attorney can help determine whether or not another driver negligently caused the crash and what type of damages a victim may be eligible to receive.
Source: Boston Herald, “Pike reopens after truck accident roils traffic,” Jordan Graham, June 5, 2013