Volunteer Firefighter Loses Arm to Fiery Thanksgiving Tanker Truck Wreck | DENENA | POINTS

Volunteer Firefighter Loses Arm to Fiery Thanksgiving Tanker Truck Wreck

The Thanksgiving Tanker Truck Wreck

A volunteer firefighter from Pinewood, TX, Kimberly Huckabee, was hit by an 18-wheeler while battling a blaze caused by the wreck of an oil tanker truck. The oil tanker truck wreck near Sour Lake, TX on Thanksgiving led to a succession of other collisions.

Pearland, TX injury attorneys note that Terry Dunaway of Beaumont, TX apparently fell asleep at the wheel of the oil tanker truck. The tanker truck then left the road, struck two culverts, and burst into flame. The truck’s 6,700 gallons of crude oil spilled across the highway and ignited. The highway remained closed for several hours while firefighters let it burn off. First responders to the tanker truck wreck set up a hot zone from Bevil Oaks to Sour Lake and evacuated a residence.

Causes and Consequences

Terry Dunaway was hospitalized in stable condition. Kimberly Huckabee underwent surgery to amputate her left arm after being hit by an 18-wheeler. She also suffered head injuries, and surgeons worked to try and reattach the fingers of her right hand. An assistance fund to benefit the recovery and rehabilitation of Kimberly Huckabee has been set up at the Pinewood Volunteer Fire Department (333 Commercial Dr., Sour Lake, TX 77659).

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the accident. News reports do not say what caused the 18-wheeler to strike Ms. Huckabee at the accident scene. Our Pearland, TX injury attorneys wonder why the 18-wheeler driver that struck the volunteer firefighter didn’t notice an active accident scene that was the site of a major crude oil blaze from a distance and stop in time.

Driver fatigue, driver distraction, and DWI all present possibilities. Accounts say that several accidents followed that of Terry Dunaway letting the oil tanker in his charge run from the road and crash. Thanksgiving is a major holiday for DWI accidents. But weather may have played a role in the chain-reaction wrecks.

Some Thoughts on this Tragedy

The Pearland, TX injury attorneys at Denena & Points have the utmost sympathy for Kimberly Huckabee who lost an arm trying to do good for her community. The incident seems particularly tragic because she suffered so while serving as a volunteer.

Our Pearland, TX injury attorneys let this tragic story serve as a reminder of the dangers firefighters face every day in their efforts to save us from fire dangers and death. Thanksgiving is the year’s biggest day for dangerous and deadly house fires. Firefighters must run more risks on Thanksgiving Day than on other days of the year.

Kimberly Huckabee, a dedicated volunteer, stands as another tragic firefighter victim of dangerous Thanksgiving Day fires. Our sympathies and our admiration for her efforts as a volunteer firefighter go out to Ms. Huckabee.

Your Pearland, TX injury attorneys also want to remind you of the dangers from Texas roads. Recent months have seen a number of large, chain-reaction wrecks. Many of them occurred at accident scenes while rescue workers and investigators were responding to an initial crash. Take care and drive safe. And if you have questions about a fire-related accident or a truck wreck that’s injured you, you can always contact us for a free consultation. If you have questions; we have answers.