Two Dead in La Joya Tractor Trailer Crash
At approximately 5 a.m. on Thursday, June 1st, a passenger car collided with a tractor-trailer. The accident happened on Mile 3 and FM 2221 between a passenger car traveling north and a southbound tractor-trailer.
The La Joya Police Department identified the victims from the passenger car as 25-year-old and 39-year-old males. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured.
The cause of the accident is unclear and the investigation is ongoing.
The Facts About Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Tractor trailers, also known as semi-trucks, outweigh passenger cars by a wide margin, so it isn’t exactly surprising that the truck comes out the winner in any collision.
Even in perfect conditions, a loaded tractor-trailer takes a long time to stop. They also can’t make evasive turns as easily or switch lanes in a split second. Add in unsafe driving from other vehicles or poor road conditions and the danger only ramps up.
Follow these tips to stay safe while you’re on the road with these titans:
- Don’t drive intoxicated, distracted, or tired
- Don’t expect a truck tractor to yield to you
- Be quick if you need to pass
- Stay far away from the back and front of the vehicle
- The sides of the tractor-trailer have massive blindspots that cover most of the vehicle so avoid lingering there
- Trucks turn wide so never sit on the inside of a truck signaling a turn
- Give extra space when the road is wet
- Avoid being near a semi-truck when you’re driving at night or in bad weather
- Make sure you can see the driver and they can see you if you need to drive alongside one
