Passenger Dies in Dump Truck Crash in Suffolk 

Dump trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. They are heavy, have blind spots, and suffer serious wear and tear. We were saddened to read of a recent crash in which a passenger died in a dump truck crash in Suffolk.

Authorities were notified of the three-vehicle crash involving a dump truck and two pickups on May 20. Suffolk police and fire and rescue units responded to the 900 block of Hosier Road near the intersection of Hunter and County streets, according to media reports.

Suffolk Fire & Rescue treated three injured motorists at the accident scene. Ambulance crews transported a passenger in one of the pickup trucks to a local hospital where he died. The victim was a 45-year-old man from Texas. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.

The driver of one of the pickup trucks and the dump truck driver were also taken to Suffolk hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Recent Dump Truck Crashes in Virginia

This fatal dump truck crash in Suffolk is the latest in a series of deadly dump truck crashes in Virginia. Last April, the driver of a dump truck died in a fiery wreck when his Peterbilt dump truck ran off the road and hit a jersey wall on I-64 between Fort Eustis Blvd. and Jefferson Ave in Newport News.

Dump trucks have also been involved in crashes that claimed the lives of other drivers. In Virginia Beach, a dump truck driver tried to back into a construction site entrance when the truck was hit from behind by a Ford F-150. The force of the impact sent the pickup into a Honda CRV. A passenger in the pickup truck died from the force of the impact.

Dump trucks pose a hazard on construction sites and landfills when drivers fail to realize other vehicles or workers are in their blindspots. Last month, a 23-year-old man lost his life in Stafford, Virginia, when an oversized dump truck backed over his UTV vehicle on a construction site. Dump trucks are also susceptible to tipping accidents on work sites or if the driver fails to slow down sufficiently on a curve. Almost 400 fatal dump truck crashes are reported every year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Safety Tips for Driving Near Dump Trucks

We urge drivers to exercise care around dump trucks. These are bulky and heavy vehicles that require long braking distances and have massive blindspots. Never drive too closely to dump trucks and avoid their blind spots. Exercise care at intersections or on narrow, rural roads when you encounter a dump truck. Do not stop near the entrances or exits of work sites. Pedestrians should avoid crossing the road close to these vehicles. You should also be careful about garbage trucks that stop frequently on suburban roads.

If you have been hurt or suffered a serious injury in a crash with a dump truck or another commercial vehicle, contact our Virginia truck accident lawyers as soon as possible. A trucking company may be held liable for mistakes made by drivers or maintenance issues on a big rig. Call us as soon as possible.