Man Charged With DUI After Fatal Connecticut Crash

A 64-year-old Connecticut truck driver was killed on Sept. 28 after his tanker truck was hit by a 35-year-old man who was allegedly driving under the influence on I-95 near Westport. The accident happened shortly before 7 p.m. The 35-year-old, who was driving a Mercedes, sideswiped the truck on the driver’s side.

The truck smashed into a guardrail. It then went over on its side and caught on fire. The tanker was full of raw sewage that spilled all over the highway. Rescue teams spent 8 hours trying to free the trapped trucker from the cab.

The man who caused the accident was uninjured and was charged with DUI. He also had previous convictions related to substance abuse. In 2001, he got a three-year suspended sentence and three years of probation after he was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell. In July, he had received a ticket for driving while using his cellphone.

Even if a person survives a motor vehicle accident like this one, they may have serious injuries. Unfortunately, insurance companies often offer too little of a settlement to cover medical expenses and the lost income that may accompany a long rehabilitation from such injuries. In some cases, the person might be permanently disabled and unable to return to work. The victim might want to meet with an attorney to discuss whether the filing of a personal injury lawsuit against the motorist who caused the crash would be an appropriate way to seek compensation for these and other losses.

Source: Connecticut Post, “Car driver charged in I-95 crash that killed trucker,” Jim Shay, Sept. 29, 2016