An Illinois man is dead after a semi-truck crash that police believe was caused by a possible mechanical failure. The fatal accident happened near Glen Carbon on eastbound Interstate 270 on Wednesday. According to police, the 47-year-old truck driver crashed his tractor-tractor just before 9:30 a.m. between Route 157 and Route 159. Police found the man dead at the scene of the crash. Police are puzzled over what caused the single-vehicle crash but believe it could have been caused by a medical issue or a mechanical failure of the tractor-trailer.
A local Glen Carbon news station took aerial photos of the scene showing the path of tire marks of semi-truck crossing from the westbound lanes through the eastbound lanes and rolling near a bridge. The tractor-trailer was hauling sand that spilled out when the truck overturned. According to police, all eastbound lanes of Interstate 270 were closed to traffic for nearly an hour. The overpass where the truck crashed has suffered minor structural damage, according to officials. The overpass will remain open to traffic as repairs are made.
Mechanical failures cause thousands of automobile accidents every year in our nation. Why don’t we hear more about these terrible accidents? Many of these auto accidents are settled out of court and plaintiffs are awarded compensation by the at-fault automakers. Ford just announced almost 100,000 vehicle are being recalled due to a defect in the fuel pump that could cause an unexpected stalling. If you believe your accident was caused by a mechanical failure, please contact Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, and speak to a product liability attorney immediately.