Fatal Accident in Texas Upper Panhandle Involving Tanker Truck

SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 18, 2013 (Press-News.org) It doesn't appear to be the tanker driver's fault - which is probably what many Texans assumed was the case, given the heavy commercial trucking activity due to hydraulic fracturing in Texas.

What happened was the 16-year-old driver of a SUV ran a stop sign, as Ben Brumfield reports for CNN. All five teens in the SUV lost their lives in the accident.

'Scorched' Earth

Brumfield describes the site of the collision in harsh terms: "scorched" earth and "charred debris" at an intersection in Dumas, Texas. Dumas is a relatively small town in Moore County, population just shy of 15,000, in the upper panhandle of North Texas, located north of Amarillo.

Brumfield's report calls out the fact that traffic accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for young people in the U.S. every year. This is why graduated driver's license programs have taken off in pretty much every state in the nation, in which young inexperienced drivers pass through several hurdles before getting their full-fledged driver's license.

Dangerous Tanker Trucks

If, indeed, the 16-year-old driver ran the stop sign, the tanker driver probably does not share much, if any, of the fault in this fatal accident.

But it's a reminder how dangerous these types of collisions can be.

Brumfield describes the tanker's contents exploding in the wreck, sending flames upon the teens in the SUV and the tanker driver (the tanker driver, who apparently survived the immediate wreck, was flown to the hospital with serious burn injuries).

Tankers serve a variety of purposes, from refueling airplanes to transporting petroleum, chemicals, concrete, water, and other goods.

Many tankers in Texas are used to transport water and sand for hydraulic fracturing. These tankers make hundreds of trips to supply the materials needed for just one well site. As natural gas production continues to skyrocket on the Eagle Ford Shale, commercial trucking traffic will naturally be heavy.

The problem is with more tankers on the road, whether or not they're carrying hazardous cargo, the more likely it is that accidents will happen.

Injured in a Wreck? Call a Dedicated Truck Accident Lawyer

If you've been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler or tanker in Texas, you'll naturally ask yourself who's at fault. Sometimes it's the truck driver. Sometimes it's the company that employs the truck driver. Either way, it's important that you get the help you need to recover. Call 866-798-0737 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Source: Teen tragedy: 5 die in fiery collision with tanker truck in Texas

Website: http://www.texas18wheeleraccidents.com