Semi-Truck Collided With Disabled Pickup Truck on the 91 Freeway in Buena Park
BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA (February 10, 2025) – Three people have tragically died in a Buena Park semi-truck accident along the 91 Freeway by the Valley View Street exit.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:00 AM on Friday. A pickup truck was disabled in the eastbound lanes of the freeway.
The driver of a big rig truck failed to slow down in time and struck the back of the pickup truck. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
Despite life-saving measures, three adults inside of the pickup truck were pronounced dead at the scene. There were reportedly slick road conditions due to rain at the time of the collision.
Authorities shut down several lanes of traffic on the 91 freeway in order to investigate the Buena Park collision. But those lanes were opened up around 10:45 AM that same day.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks can weigh 80,000 lbs and are uniquely dangerous for pedestrians and occupants of passenger vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “In 2021 there were 5,788 people killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks. This was a 17-percent increase from 4,945 in 2020. • Seventy-two percent of people killed in large-truck traffic crashes in 2021 were occupants of other vehicles.” There are a number of steps that semi-truck drivers should take in order to avoid collisions.
- Semi-truck drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Semi-truck drivers should abstain from alcohol and any medications that could compromise their ability to drive safely.
- Semi-truck drivers should constantly scan the road ahead of them for hazards, particularly in low-light conditions.
Semi-truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must operate their vehicle with a great deal of care in order to avoid collisions. This is especially important because commercial trucks have large stopping distances compared to smaller passenger vehicles. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than would be prudent and reasonable given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any truck driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of traffic.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability could extend beyond a truck driver. The company that the truck driver worked for could potentially be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees working within their job duties. This will typically include instances where a commercial truck was being used to transport goods. It is important that the circumstances leading up to any semi-truck accident are properly understood.
- The event data recorder (EDR) of the truck involved should be reviewed.
- The road conditions leading up to the crash should be documented with photographs.
- The logbook of the semi-truck driver involved in the crash should be examined.
- The police report for the collision should be collected.
The vast majority of semi-truck accidents are completely preventable. They tend to involve truck drivers that are traveling too fast or not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. Drivers are supposed to slow down to avoid hitting other vehicles. This includes vehicles that are completely stationary in the roadway. There is simply no excuse for a driver to ever hit another vehicle from behind. Family members of any person killed in a semi-truck accident are able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Semi-Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the three people killed in this Buena Park truck accident. This was a preventable tragedy that should’ve never taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to California Highway Patrol. There are so many questions about what happened that still remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about a Buena Park semi-truck accident? Our team of roadway safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and holding truck companies accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
