Home Semi Truck Accident Law Driver in Fatal Semi Accident Likely Not Wearing Glasses

Driver in Fatal Semi Accident Likely Not Wearing Glasses

Posted by Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorney on Jun 15, 2010 in Semi Truck Accident Law, Wrongful Death | 0 comments

A Minnesota four-car semi truck accident that killed two and released a swarm of bees is still under investigation and new information indicates that the driver may not have been wearing the corrective lenses required by law, according to Minnesota State Patrol officials.

The accident on Interstate 35 in Lakeville, Minn., happened in late May and caused a four-car pileup, killed two people and released thousands of honey bees, which were the cargo of the second semi truck involved in the accident. The driver of the first semi, in addition to not wearing glasses or contact lenses that may have been required by law, was also reportedly reaching for a beverage when he temporarily took his eyes off the road and rear-ended the car in front of him, causing the pileup.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

“The patrol also is looking at [the driver's] physical condition…adding that the 36-year-old driver was ordered “out of service” by a trooper. [Officials] did not specify what it was about the driver’s condition that prompted the order; however, the trooper invoked a federal regulation that allows such an action when a driver is ill or fatigued. [The driver] was sidelined for 10 hours…”

Semi Truck Driver Laws, Regulations and Liability

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, regulates certain aspects of commercial drivers’ jobs. If these regulations are not met and an accident and/or injuries arise as a result of a failure to follow trucking regulations, truck accident injury victims could have a legal claim against several parties, including the driver, the trucking company, the owner of the cargo and others. Types of areas regulated by the FMCSA include: