Any accident can have devastating consequences, but this is particularly true when a truck is involved. Because of their weight and size, trucks often cause extensive damage and more serious injuries compared to a typical car-on-car collision. A Yale University student found this out when he was involved in a truck accident that resulted in a fatality.
The tailgating festivities before the annual Yale-Harvard football game, which was held in New Haven, Connecticut, were in full swing on Nov. 19, 2011. A student driving a U-Haul truck entered one of the lots set aside for tailgating. The truck suddenly accelerated and hit three party-goers before veering off and hitting other parked trucks.
A 30-year-old Massachusetts woman died from her injuries. Two other people also suffered injuries. Although the truck was filled with beer, the driver of the truck passed a field sobriety test, according to law enforcement officials. He was eventually charged with reckless driving and reckless endangerment, both of which are misdemeanors. He was also cited for unsafe starting and traveling unreasonably fast.
The student was recently sentenced to probation. If he makes it through the two-year sentence while also completing 400 community service hours and abstaining from driving for 90 days, the courts will dismiss both misdemeanors.
In this case, the driver of the truck received a fairly lenient sentence, given the fact that someone died as a result of the crash. The two injured bystanders may still be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses, while the family of the deceased may be able to sue for wrongful death.
Source: Hartford Courant, "Yale Student, Driver In Tailgate Party Death, Gets Probation," Feb. 1, 2013
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