Sleepy Driver Causes Truck Loaded with Beer to Overturn on Freeway
A truck full of beer overturned early Friday, resulting in a prolonged backup on the westbound 10 Freeway in Ontario. The accident appears to have been caused by the truck’s driver, who fell asleep at the wheel, according to a news report posted on the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s Web site .
The truck careened off the right shoulder of the 10, overturning near Milliken Avenue in the early morning hours. The driver, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries in the incident.
The cleanup of the beer, which took three tow trucks and a flatbed truck, lasted until around noon on Saturday, officials said.
Big rigs can be deadly. According to a recent MSNBC news report, 500 people were killed and 114,000 injured in truck crashes in 2005 alone. It is extremely fortunate that no one else was injured or killed in this accident, likely due to its estimated 3:40 a.m. occurrence.
The companies that hire truck drivers are responsible for hiring qualified drivers and for periodically testing drivers for use of controlled substances and alcohol, and they’re also required by federal law to maintain a log book and comply with hours-of-service laws.
Generally, truckers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive off-duty hours. But many trucking companies and truck drivers break that law on a regular basis in an effort to cut costs or maximize their personal income. Beware of big rigs at all times, but particularly during hours when it’s most likely for fatigue to set in.
