Semi-truck Accident Closes I-70 in Kansas City

semi truck accident

Were you on I-70 yesterday during rush hour? Those that were got stuck in heavy traffic after a semi-truck overturned and lost its load shutting down the east bound lanes.

@MoDOT_KC: “Breaking: #KCTraffic at a halt after semi overturns EB I-70 & Jackson. Let friends/family know to look for alt. rte.”

Watch the news clip from yesterday’s accident on KMBC.


Major Causes of Semi-truck Accidents

Every year, approximately 500,000 semi-truck accidents occur in the U.S. with 6,000 trucking accident fatalities. The good news is that there were no fatalities in yesterday’s accident.

Some of the major causes of semi-truck, or large commercial truck, accidents are:

  • Improper loading, including overweight or overloaded trucks that can result in loads becoming unbalanced
  • Faulty truck components or improper maintenance
  • Speeding or other bad driving practices
  • Overworked or overtired drivers, making them prone to mistakes on the road
  • Driver error caused by inattention, distraction or substance abuse
  • Weather, traffic and road conditions, which can hamper a driver’s ability to stop quickly

Due to their size and weight, large commercial trucks – semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, big rigs, tractor-trailers – typically cause more damage than an automobile accident. These large trucks are 20 times the size of other vehicles on the road, weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and often travel at speeds of 70+ miles per hour.

The goal of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The agency wants to hear from you should you observe any safety violations. In addition, you can find a safety section with tips and resources for drivers.


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