Distracted Splendora driver hauling ammo in fiery, firing truck wreck | DENENA | POINTS

Distracted Splendora driver hauling ammo in fiery, firing truck wreck

Clear Lake truck accident lawyers find this fiery UPS truck wreck to be an exemplary illustration of the dangers and high costs associated with ordinary distracted driving. Darren Spates, 45, of Splendora, ducked down into the well of the UPS 18-wheeler he was driving to retrieve something down on the floor of the truck. While he was down there, the 18-wheeler veered off of I-45 to the outside shoulder in a construction area south of FM 830 near Conroe.

The veering UPS 18-wheeler then struck a guardrail, rode the top of the concrete wall, struck the bridge, and lost its axles. Then the truck jack-knifed and erupted into a fiery blaze around midnight. The truck burned into the wee hours of Thursday morning. Dozens of parcels lay strewn along the highway near the blaze. Ammo was among the cargo in the UPS truck. It appears that the fire set off a round of the ammunition. A bullet struck one of the Conroe fire engines battling the blaze, but fortunately the dangerous cargo didn’t injure anyone. The truck driver received transport to the hospital in stable condition.

The UPS 18-wheeler suffered heavy damage from the fiery wreck, and was hauled away on a flatbed. Emergency crews closed all northbound lanes of I-45 in order to contain the blaze, deal with the wreckage, and repair the fire-damaged roadway. Northbound I-45 reopened just before 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The fiery wreck of the UPS 18-wheeler near Conroe, TX serves as a rather spectacular illustration of the dangers and high costs of distracted driving. One can’t help but wonder what seemed so important down in the floor of the truck when the effort to retrieve it led to so much damage and destruction.

If a distracted or negligent truck driver has injured you, you can contact our Clear Lake truck accident lawyers for a free and confidential legal consultation regarding your accident. With more than 12 years of experience litigating on behalf of injured accident victims, we could provide you with the sound legal advice and strategy you need to win just financial compensation from those who injured you. Call 877-307-9500 today, or use our web contact form to schedule your free consultation. We’re here to help you win the fair compensation you deserve.