The Middle Tennessee State University campus is grieving the loss of a student who was killed in an accident with a dump truck this morning. According to reports, the 28-year-old student, who was in a wheelchair, was struck by a dump truck while crossing a street near the campus in Murfreesboro.
According to reports, the dump truck had been making a right turn when the 28-year-old was hit just before 9 a.m.
A witness, also a MTSU student, said she was waiting to make a left turn at the intersection when she heard a scream and saw a person being struck by the dump truck. She said after the collision, the wheelchair sat empty in the cross walk.
The 28-year-old was rushed to Middle Tennessee Medical Center, where he it was declared dead.
The Murfreesboro Police Department Fatal Accident Crash Team is conducting an investigation in effort to determine how and why the accident occurred. At this point, no criminal charges have been filed against the driver of the dump truck, a 32-year-old.
Reportedly, the dump truck is owned by a local construction company. It is possible that the driver and the construction company could face liability in a wrongful death lawsuit if it is determined that negligence contributed to the accident.
Commercial drivers have a duty to use prudence and care while operating large vehicles on busy roads, but this unfortunately doesn't always happen. Additionally, truck accidents are sometimes the result of maintenance problems with the vehicles.
While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one in a fatal truck accident, a wrongful death lawsuit can help the family feel that justice has been served by holding negligent parties responsible.