Poorly Maintained, Faulty Truck Brakes caused Unnecessary Injuries and Fatalities: Well-Maintained Brakes could have prevented the Wreck
Continued from Part 1. The Amtrak train was traveling at about 77 mph at the time of the fatal train wreck. The tractor-trailer truck was traveling around 60 mph. Skid marks show that the truck driver applied the brakes about 300 feet away from the railroad crossing, then skidded into the train. Our Houston accident attorneys emphasize that the truck should have stopped after about 230 feet, still a safe distance from the train, if the truck brakes had been properly maintained and in good condition.
The train operator, noticing the approach of a semi truck that was not slowing at the crossing, applied the emergency brake about 450 feet away from the intersection. The railroad crossing warning signals operated properly at the time of the truck crash.
NTSB investigators were unable to determine the reason for the truck driver’s failure to notice the approach of the train until he was in imminent danger of a fatal train wreck. They did not have enough evidence to clearly ascribe the wreck to fatigue, cell phone use, or ankle pain, though there were some indications of each.
Tests indicated that 11 of 16 brake drums on the semi truck were worn beyond acceptable limits. And 9 of the 16 truck brakes were either inoperative or out of adjustment. According to the NTSB, the truck driver himself would likely have remained unaware of the faulty condition of his brakes until he had to make a sudden stop. The warning lights and anti-lock brake system had been deliberately disconnected, though investigators could not determine why.
In other words, John Davis Trucking, owner of the rig, failed to adequately and safely maintain the tractor-trailer truck and its brakes. Because of the inadequate maintenance, the semi truck could not stop in time after the driver noticed the approaching train, and 6 people died and a dozen more were injured in a fatal train wreck.
The Truck Driver had a Record of Speeding Violations
NTSB investigators found that Larry Valli had a history of speeding and had received 11 citations in the past 10 years. They also found that he had not disclosed employers that had terminated him on his application to John Davis Trucking, his employer at the time of the fatal train wreck. Our Houston accident attorneys remark that John Davis Trucking also had not conducted an in-depth check to discover his employment history or speeding violations outside of Nevada.
The NTSB’s Safety Recommendations following the Fatal Amtrak and Truck Crash
The NTSB board has made several recommendations as a result of the Amtrak wreck with its multiple fatalities:
Our Houston accident attorneys note that laws already require truck owners to maintain their rigs to certain safety standards. Those laws however don’t prevent numbers of negligent truck owners from ignoring the safety standards. There are also laws designed to prevent truck driver fatigue, but truckers under pressure to make deliveries and cover miles sometimes work to circumvent those laws.
Your Safety is at Risk from Negligent Trucking Practices. Contact us if you have Questions after a Truck Crash Injury
Your safety and the lives of your loved ones are at risk from negligent truck owners and drivers. Contact the Houston accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC if you have questions and need help after a serious truck accident. We’re available anytime through our online contact form or call 281-369-4363.