When a flatbed semi-truck rounded a curve on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, one family suffered an unimaginable loss. The 1,200-pound hay bales the truck was carrying fell, crushing a sedan and causing additional accidents on the eastbound lane of Highway 299 near Ingot and east of Redding.
According to investigators and the Redding Record Searchlight, 6 of the hay bales tumbled from the flatbed as the semi-truck rounded a curve. One bale crushed a 2001 Honda Civic sedan, ending the life of a 52-year-old woman and sending the vehicle into traffic, where it collided with a 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan driven by a 78-year-old woman who suffered minor injuries. Bales from the truck also hit a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek and a 2008 Doge 2500 pickup, although the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirms both drivers declined medical aid.
The semi-truck driver did not sustain injuries, and the CHP is still investigating the collision.
When Cargo Errors Cause Semi-Truck Accidents
Drivers and shipping companies that operate semi-trucks must follow strict regulations, especially when it comes to cargo. While the cause of this tragic crash is yet to be determined, the accident alone is evidence enough that something went wrong.
When shipping companies and other negligent parties fail to secure dangerous cargo and take the appropriate care when transporting goods, innocent people should not pay the price. That’s why personal injury firms like Haslerud Law Office exist.
Our attorneys help ensure the injured and bereaved do not have to face the financial consequences of motor vehicle accidents alone. In accidents like this one, we conduct a private investigation and help identify the at-fault parties. Once we have the information and evidence we need, we use our 35 years of collective legal experience to hold wrongdoers accountable for their actions and recover compensation for our clients.