A cement truck driver who was involved in a recent fatal accident in Clovis stated he was attempting to avoid a collision when he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled. According to an accident report, 32-year-old Guadalupe Lopez allegedly told law enforcement officers he was headed north on Norris Street in a Mack truck with a concrete mixer attached when he noticed a vehicle in front of him was stopped at a traffic signal. Lopez reportedly steered the fully loaded cement truck to the right in an effort to avoid hitting the stopped vehicle. Instead, the cement truck overturned and rolled on top of a two-door 2011 Toyota driven by 54-year-old Shirley Garcia as she slowed to make a turn at the upcoming intersection. Garcia’s passenger, 29-year-old Crystal Sutherland, died at the scene of the crash. Garcia and another passenger, Susan Trujillo, were taken to Plains Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
The exact cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Clovis Police Department’s Major Crash Reconstruction Team. According to Police Captain Patrick Whitney, the cement truck owned by Griego and Sons Concrete rolled due to a combination of a high center of gravity and hitting a curb. The weight of the concrete also reportedly contributed to the incident. Although neither driver was suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, both drivers submitted to voluntary toxicology testing. Captain Whitney refused to say whether either driver will be charged as a result of the fatal collision.
An Albuquerque automobile accident can occur unexpectedly, at any time. Unfortunately, the injuries that often result from a car crash can be devastating. If you were hurt by a reckless, negligent, or careless driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses, suffering, pain, lost wages, any resulting disability, and a variety of other damages. If your close relative was tragically killed in a car accident, you may also be eligible to file an Albuquerque wrongful death claim in order to relieve some of your financial burden. A qualified New Mexico truck accident attorney can help.
If you or a loved one was the victim of a tragic injury accident, call the Fine Law Firm at (505) 889-3463. Our knowledgeable Albuquerque personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience assisting clients throughout the State of New Mexico achieve fair compensation for injuries sustained in automobile, truck, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact the dedicated and hardworking attorneys at the Fine Law Firm through our website today.
More Blog Posts:
New Mexico Has the Highest Rate of Injury Deaths in the Nation, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 24, 2012
Santa Fe Cyclist Injured While Riding in Dedicated Bike Lane, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 15, 2012
Additional Resources:
Driver in fatal crash says he was trying to avoid accident, Clovis News Journal
Press Release: Fatal Automobile Crash at 7th and Norris Streets, by Captain Patrick Whitney, Clovis Police Department Press Release dated April 25, 2012