Every collision involving a commercial truck has the potential to be catastrophic. When more than one truck is involved, the damage can be much more devastating.
Recently, for instance, two trucks collided on the Brent Spence Bridge. The result was chaos, an intense fire involving hazardous materials, and multiple parties in danger of being hurt.
The crash that started it all
Media reports say the incident started when one semi-truck jackknifed on the bridge, which carries traffic between Ohio and Kentucky. A second truck hauling potassium hydroxide crashed into the disabled truck, sparking an intense fire.
Other cars on the bridge were able to stop and turn arou d before the fire spread. However, the bridge closed and will remain closed for the foreseeable future due to the “severe damage,” according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. In fact, the bridge could remain closed for weeks and possibly months until repairs are complete.
The short- and long-term impact of the crash
It will take time to unravel the details of the crash. Transportation agencies will likely be interested in figuring out what caused the first truck to jackknife, whether there were any issues with the hazardous material on the second truck and what could have been done to prevent the crash.
Looking further into the future, transportation officials will likely be considering how to prevent accidents like this from occurring again, including potentially moving forward with the proposed expansion project.
It also means that motorists will need to find new ways to get between Kentucky and Ohio. Detours can be frustrating, lengthy and congested, so drivers will need to stay alert and give themselves more time to reach their destination.
Further, in the coming days and weeks, parties may be recovering from the trauma of a frightening situation like this. While there were no physical injuries suffered, the truckers and other motorists stuck on the bridge can be reeling from the emotional distress of experiencing a serious truck accident.