Truck Accident Lawyer News

LAS VEGAS, NV – A major highway in Clark County, Nevada was closed for several hours Friday night, February 4, after a single vehicle truck accident. Gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the truck and ignited on the Las Vegas Beltway near the intersection with Eastern Avenue in the city of Las Vegas. The truck accident area is in the far southern tip of Nevada, about 65 miles east of Shoshone, California and about 86 miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona.

On Friday evening an unidentified truck driver was traveling through Clark County in the far south section of Nevada. The semi driver was carrying a load of dirt and gravel in an open trailer at the time of the truck accident. Police have not released the name of the trucking company or the driver’s destination.

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At about 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, the semi driver had reached the city of Las Vegas and was westbound on the Las Vegas Beltway. The highway is also known as the 215 Beltway and wraps around the southern edge of Las Vegas. The truck accident occurred as the semi trailer was passing near the juncture with Eastern Avenue.

According to police, two other westbound vehicles had collided seconds before on the Beltway right in front of the semi trailer truck. The truck accident happened as the semi driver apparently tried to maneuver around the crash. At this point it appears the semi driver may have lost control of his 18 wheeler. The semi truck slid across the westbound lanes and crashed into the center median. The tractor trailer went up into the air and then slammed down onto the dividing wall running down the center of the beltway. The semi trailer came to a rest, precariously balanced on the top of the center median wall.

The force of the truck accident punctured at least one of the semi’s gas tanks and diesel fuel began to leak onto the Beltway. Moments later the fuel ignited and flames leapt from the semi truck and the approximately 30 gallons of diesel that spilled on the highway.

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Firefighters and emergency personnel from several Las Vegas Departments rushed to the scene of the fiery truck accident. The fire teams battled the flames of the fuel fire while paramedics gave aid to the victims. The identities of the accident victims were not released. Officials would only confirm that two people received injuries and were taken to a local hospital where they are expected to recover. It is not known if the truck driver was one of the persons injured.

Nevada Highway Patrol and Las Vegas Police took control of the truck accident site and shut down the westbound lanes of the 215 Beltway. The closures came at the height of the Friday evening commute, causing major traffic delays.  Once the truck fire was extinguished, highway crews were brought in to clear the lanes. A heavy duty wrecker was used to get the damaged tractor trailer off of the center dividing wall and towed from the highway. It appears that most of the cargo of dirt and gravel remained in the trailer section during the crash.
The westbound traffic lanes of the 215 Beltway reopened a short time after 10:00 p.m. Friday night, more than 4 hours after the truck accident.

Nevada Highway Patrol officials conducted a reconstruction of the crash but have not yet released a statement. It is believed that the truck accident was set off when the driver attempted to avoid plowing into the crash that happened in front of his tractor trailer.

It is unclear if charges will be brought against any of the drivers. The truck accident remains under investigation.

Often times the truck company and the truck driver will be from other states other than where the accident occurred. Truck accident attorneys often times have relationships with other experienced truck accident lawyers licensed in other states. Gordon, Elias & Seely LLP are licensed in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, DC and have informal relationships with other truck accident lawyers. Visit their NV truck accident lawyer page for more information about Nevada truck accidents or call toll free 24/7 at 1.800.773.6770.

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