One Killed and Three Injured in Fiery Buellton Big Rig Accident

By Kelly Balamuth on January 13, 2012

A serious fuel truck accident on Thursday afternoon injured three and killed one on the northbound 101 at Santa Rosa road, according to KEYT.com. Santa Barbara County Fire, AMR, water tenders, helicopter, Hazmat, and a battalion chief responded to the crash.

The collision was caused by a big rig which, for unknown reasons, lost control and swerved into a BMW in the next lane before it crashed into the concrete guardrail and burst into flames after it fell over 50 feet into a creek. The three occupants of the BMW, a 38-year-old mother, her 10-year-old daughter, and her 10-week-old infant were trapped in their car, which was hanging precariously off of a bridge. All three were rescued and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with broken bones and other minor injuries. The truck driver did not survive. Both directions of the 101 highway were closed after the crash, which also resulted in the spillage of 50 gallons of diesel fuel into the creek.

This truck crash has a number of potential causes. One of the most common issues concerning trucking safety is truck driver fatigue. It is possible that the big rig driver fell asleep at the wheel as the result of driving too many hours. Equipment or machinery failure could have also contributed to the truck veering out of control.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a California truck crash as the result of another’s negligence, be it truck driver, trucking company, or even truck manufacturer, you may be able to pursue financial compensation for your losses in civil court. Contact the experienced California truck accident attorneys with the Law Office of Balamuth Harrington today at (888) 254-1234 to discuss your potential claim.