Metro Nashville Police Cite FedEx Driver In Fiery 8-car Crash
The driver of a semi-truck carrying mail for FedEx who created a fiery 8-car pile up on I-24 was issued a citation by Metro Nashville Police for operating his vehicle while fatigued. The crash took place around 6:30 pm near the southwest side of Nashville, close to Old Hickory Road.
According to authorities, the at-fault FedEx driver slammed into the back of two vehicles, which set of a chain reaction, ultimately setting one car on fire that eventually exploded. The driver of that vehicle was pulled to safety just before the flames engulfed the automobile.
According to one witness who was also involved in the pile up, the FedEx semi-truck was weaving in and out of traffic prior to the collisions. The witness was driving a van that ended up in front of the semi-truck and eventually hit from behind by that vehicle.
The FedEx driver allegedly hit the van in front of him, swerved in front of that same vehicle and eventually hit a rock wall. Metro Nashville Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have not assigned blame in the crash but did cite the FedEx driver for driving while fatigued.
A total of four people were taken to area hospitals for medical treatment. One driver was dealing with burn injuries to his head and legs. None of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening.
Tennessee trucking laws
When semi-truck accidents occur, they may be due to some sort of negligence or violation of Tennessee trucking laws designed to keep drivers safe on our highways. These laws cover various aspects of truck safety and include the size and weight of a semi-truck, the safety inspection of the vehicle, and the amount of hours drivers may work in a given time period.
Some important highlights of Tennessee’s trucking laws include:
- Annual inspection of trucks that weigh 10,001 lbs. or more. Inspection includes review of the vehicle’s brake systems, coupling device, fuel systems, lights, steering, suspension, frame, tires, wheels, windshields and wipers
- Interstate drivers must carry state driver license, health card certifying that the driver meets the minimum physical qualifications, vehicle inspection sticker or report, logs for the past seven days, log for the current day and shipping papers for any hazardous materials
- Vehicles and trailers may not exceed 8’ 6” in width and/or 13’6” in height
- Drivers may not log more than 60 hours of work in a seven day period or 70 hours in eight days
Nashville truck accident lawyers
If you or a loved one was in a car crash with a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, the experienced Nashville truck accident lawyers of Calhoun Law, PLC can investigate the cause of your accident and determine if the truck driver and his or her employer may be held responsible. Contact our office for a free consultation about your case, you could be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other damages.
