For the second consecutive day, there was a fatal semi-truck crash on the 5 Freeway in San Diego County.
One person was killed when an SUV crashed into a big rig that was stationary, according to media outlets such as NBC San Diego. The driver of the tractor-trailer was pulled over when a white Infinity QX4, driving by a 54-year-old man, plowed into it shortly before noon. The man in the Infinity died as the result of his injuries according to California Highway Patrol (CHP). The accident happened near the Aliso Creek Rest Area in North San Diego County.
Currently, officers are not sure why the collision happened, but they do believe alcohol and drugs are not suspected to have played a part.
“It’s horrific, the truck crash deaths that occur so frequently in San Diego,” said Singleton Schreiber Managing Partner Gerald Singleton. “Our hearts go out to the survivors of the man who died.”
After the incident, CHP, Camp Pendleton Fire Department and Camp Pendleton Provost Marshall’s office responded. The fatal wreck caused two southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway to close for roughly three hours.
Yesterday, there was an Encinitas truck crash that killed someone on the 5 Freeway. Six other people were injured in that accident.
Singleton Schreiber truck accident attorneys can be reached at 619-367-7768 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
San Diego Big Rig Collisions
San Diego is the largest metropolitan area in California south of Los Angeles, and with heavy traffic between Orange County and the Mexico border, 18-wheeler trucks are frequently on the various freeways in the City and County of San Diego. In fact, the man who died in today’s crash was from Orange County, and was a resident of Westminster.
Throughout San Diego, 18-wheeler accidents occur frequently and are often deadly. The average big rig weighs 80,000 pounds. A semi-truck pulling an empty trailer still weighs 35,000 pounds. The typical care weights between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds, which is 10% to 30% smaller. The potential for disaster when these vehicles are traveling at high speeds is immense.
In 2020, there were almost 5,000 fatalities involving large trucks in the United States, and that’s with several months of COVID-19 lockdowns. California accounted for roughly 400 of those deaths in 2020. The state saw a spike in truck accident deaths, with numbers jumping up 10-15% from 2016 – 2020. Most researchers found that those killed in truck collisions in California were passengers and drivers in smaller cars, SUVs, pickups, and motorcycles. The individuals driving these large 18-wheelers are “protected” in the much larger trucks which also sit higher up off the ground. In 2020, only 10% of those killed in big rig accidents were the truck occupants, the other 90% were driving or were passengers in the other vehicles.
San Diego Truck Accidents
While other parts of the state get more press on truck crashes, this deadly week demonstrates just how dangerous the freeways, highways and roadways are in San Diego. El Cajon, San Marcos, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Del Mar and La Mesa have all seen their unfortunate share of deaths caused by truck crashes.
When these accidents occur, the fallout is often widespread. The survivors of the deceased will often face severe emotional and psychological trauma. But, the financial impact is great as well. The average funeral costs upwards of $20,000. Medical bills can be extreme as well, and survivors are often shocked when they see itemized bills from hospitals as well as ambulance companies. These costs add up quickly, and so the need for someone to help, and help right away, is dire.
At Singleton Schreiber, the firm’s truck accident attorneys work with people everyday who’ve been severely injured in a big rig crash or who lost a loved one in a truck crash.
Having an attorney who can help often provides relief and comfort to surviving families.
“San Diego has a serious truck accident problem, and our firm is focused on helping anyone in need,” Mr. Singleton added.
For those who have been injured in San Diego truck accidents on the 5 Freeway, or any other freeway, can contact Singleton Schreiber at 619-367-7768 or by emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
