A fatal crash on the east side of Youngstown on Thanksgiving Day has remained under investigation, because police were unable to find the truck that caused the crash. Since the truck driver left the scene of the accident, the search has been on. Now, Youngstown officers believe they have found the semi-truck that caused the accident that resulted in two deaths and a third person being hospitalized with significant burns.
Police found the red Freightliner truck not far from the site of the accident. The driver who drove the truck was taken to the Youngstown Police Department to be questioned by authorities. While no one has yet been charged in the incident, a lieutenant from the YPD did say that after the interview, the department contacted the city prosecutor to review the case. Police are currently waiting on test results from the vehicle, including an analysis of the vehicle’s “black box,” so that they can do an accident reconstruction to determine exactly what happened.
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal and depending on the circumstances could result in felony charges. While it’s not clear as of yet whether the driver will be considered liable in the accident, witness testimony and the fact that the driver left the scene would seem to indicate that he was at fault in the accident.
If any litigation ensues as a result of the investigation, either the driver of the truck or his company could be the target of the lawsuit. In truck accident cases, the companies are typically more likely to be the target because it would make for a lucrative result for the claimant.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a serious truck accident, work with the southwest Ohio personal injury attorneys at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen LPA, Co. right away.