Truck Driver Seriously Injured in Semi-Truck Crash in St. Francois County Missouri

The semi-truck crash occured on Highway 67 in St. Francois County Missouri early this afternoon and involved two tractor-trailers. The weather was cold and the area had dusting of snow the night before the crash. Investigators will have to determine if weather played a factor in causing one of the tractor-trailers to jacknife. Troopers confirm that it was precipitating on southbound 67 where the crash took place, in close proximity to the Big River Bridge. 61 year-old Gerald Brewen apparently locked up the brakes of his 1986 Peterbilt tractor-trailer and started to slide. 49 year-old Kenneth Coleman, of Mineral Point, was following behind Brewen when he started to slide. Witness accounts reveal that Coleman was doing everything possible to avoid contact with Brewen's semi-truck, wihch was jacknifing right in front of him.

The red cab of Coleman's Western Star tractor was seperated and fell off the Big River Bridge. Coleman sustained serious inury and was rushed to Jefferson Regional Hospital for emergency care. We are continuing to follow this investigation to see if citations are issued and what the final conclusions of causing factors will be by the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Our Missouri semi-truck accident lawyers have represented victims in passenger vehicles and truck drivers alike. Not every tractor-trailer accident involves a smaller vehicle. in fact, trucks are involved in accidents with other large trucks more often than the public may think. From sideswipe collisions during passing, to merging accidents, and jacknifing, truck drivers are also at risk for injury.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require truck drivers to take certain precautions when driving in inclement weather conditions. Snow, sleet, rain, ice, and other factors require drivers and trucking companies to have procedures in place that mandate drivers to pull off the road or use extreme caution by adjusting speed, following distances, and other actions. When drivers are on a "time is money" schedule, safety procedures are often disregarded at the expense of risk to serious injury or death to other motorists.

The truck crash lawyers at Schultz & Myers are highly trained in complex semi-truck accident litigation. Our attorneys use a network of accident engineers and regulatory experts in handling all injury cases involving a commercial motor vehicle. This is critical for our injured clients and their families, as they only get one shot at obtaining justice, which in the civil court system equates to compensation for their injuries, both past and future. Our lawyers can be reached 24 hours a day on our emergency injury hotline.