Septic truck collides with SUV leaving five dead

2008-08-04 17:53:27 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Auto Accident)

Westley, California (JusticeNewsFlash.com) –- Every 12 minutes, one person dies because of a car accident. Accidents involving trucks, SUV rollovers and automobiles happen constantly. The majority of these car accidents could be avoided if only the drivers would drive more responsibly. About 30% of the car accident fatalities can be attributed to driving above the speed limits and 33% because of reckless driving. New fatality statistics show 10,694 people died last year in rollovers. Of these horrific accidents, SUVs by far had the highest rate, with 62 percent of all SUV deaths occurring in rollovers, which is nearly three times the 22% rate for cars.

It was a simple, sunny Tuesday afternoon when orchard workers were traveling home to Lodi from a hard days work, suddenly their Ford Explorer smashed into a large septic truck launching both vehicles into the Delta-Mendota Canal. The canal runs 17 feet deep and 100 feet wide, so immediately it was a challenge to rescue the vehicles and passengers from the swift moving currents.

When authorities finally removed the Ford Explorer and the septic truck from the waters, the unfortunate news spread. Four men, including the driver of the truck and one woman were pronounced dead. Reports from family and friends had indicated that there could possibly be more people in the Explorer, therefore divers thoroughly searched the murky waters, but to no avail. Later on Thursday, divers uncovered the final two bodies.

Belen Martinez said through tears that her friend, nephew and brother-in-law “never had a chance to get home.”

Dallas Injury News