PA Among Worst States For Fatal Truck Crashes, Study Says

ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA - Last weekend's horrific Pennsylvania Turnpike crash that killed five people and injured 60 underscored sobering statistics indicating Pennsylvania experiences more fatal truck collisions than nearly any other state.

A recent study on truck accidents by the Phoenix, Arizona law firm of Begam Marks and Traulsen analyzed three years worth of from various sources on fatal crashes involving straight trucks, tractor trailers and other vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

"Over the past several years, the number of large trucks on our roadways has continued to increase.," the study stated. "Along with the growing number of miles driven by truckers has come an overall increase in crash rates and truck-related crash deaths."

The analysis disclosed:

• Pennsylvania ranked fifth in the nation for the highest number of fatal truck collisions between 2015 and 2017 with 405 crashes. Texas was first with 1,358, followed by California, 846; Florida, 693 and Georgia, 514.

• Pennsylvania led the nation in fatal underride crashes - where a passenger vehicle slides under the back or sides of a large truck or trailer - with 118 crashes. No other state came close to matching that number. California ranked second with 89 fatal underrides.

• I-95, which connects to the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Philadelphia, is the third most fatal road in the nation for trucking crashes.

Sunday's crash occurred when a tour bus lost control after passing a FedEx tractor-trailer, causing it to hit the concrete median barrier and forcing it up an embankment before it
rolled onto its side.

The FedEx truck struck the bus, which was blocking the road, as did a UPS truck. A Mercedes Benz and second UPS struck also hit vehicles in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.

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You can read the entire truck crash study by clicking on the link.