Truck accidents are an ever-present threat on roads and highways throughout the Chicago area. But these giant vehicles also pose a threat to Chicagoans traveling in other parts of the country as well. Sadly, a recent truck accident in Texas claimed the lives of two young men and injured three others from Northeastern Illinois University.
All five were fraternity brothers on their way to a fraternity conference. From news reports in the Chicago Tribune, it seems clear that this devastating accident has shaken the NEIU student body and faculty; particularly the victims’ fellow fraternity brothers.
The Tribune reports that the head-on collision may have been caused by drowsy driving. As the five young men were traveling on a clear morning in their 2006 Chevrolet Impala, the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic. It then collided with an 18-wheeler traveling in the opposite direction. The driver and the backseat passenger directly behind him died at the scene.
The other three passengers survived but suffered injuries. Neither the truck driver nor his passenger was injured in the crash; which is being considered an accident.
Fatal and injurious crashes like this one are a grim reminder of the fragility of life, as well as the fact that U.S. roads are dangerous even during daylight hours and in good weather. As such, we cannot afford to be anything less than attentive and alert while behind the wheel. The risks we face are simply too high.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “2 Northeastern Illinois frat brothers die, 3 survive in Texas crash,” Rosemary Regina Sobol, Jan. 19, 2014