According to law enforcement officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 21-year-old Smyrna woman was killed in a car and truck collision on April 14. The accident happened on State Route 840 around 7:40 a.m. in Smyrna.
A 55-year-old man driving a big rig was driving in the fast lane when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle. He then ran off the road through the median and into the oncoming lanes, striking the 21-year-old woman's Dodge Challenger. The force of the collision reportedly tore the woman's car in two. The woman and the driver's seat she was sitting in were ripped from the vehicle and thrown.
Police said the woman was wearing her seat belt at the time but that it did not help in the accident. A preliminary report indicated authorities do not believe that the truck driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They did take blood samples that have been sent off for toxicology tests, however, and expect the results back in a couple of weeks. They have not indicated what they believe caused the man to lose control of the truck and run off the roadway.
When a person is killed in an accident caused by truck driver negligence, surviving family members may be left in shock. They may additionally be faced with significant unexpected expenses combined with large financial losses as a result of their loved one's death. The family may want to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit against both the driver as well as the commercial carrier that is his or her employer. Trucking companies are often held responsible under a theory of vicarious liability for accidents their employees cause while driving on the job.