NCDOT Truck Driver Appears to Have Caused Fatal Head-On | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Preliminary investigations indicate the driver of a North Carolina Department of Transportation excavator crossed the center line of rural NC111 outside the town of Tarboro, NC, shortly before crashing head-on into a van traveling in the opposite direction.

The man behind the wheel of the wheel died at the scene of the accident. He has been identified as a 24-year veteran of the Tarboro police force and the father of two children. He was not on duty when the fatal collision occurred.

Whenever a vehicle veers out of its lane, everyone else on the road is put at risk for getting injured or killed. This is especially true when the errant vehicle is a large piece of construction equipment. No passenger van could protect its occupants from serious harm when struck by an excavator like this one.

Regardless, holding responsible parties accountable in civil court for the Tarboro accident could prove difficult Government agencies like NCDOT and their employees can invoke broad immunity from wrongful death and other lawsuits. If the official crash investigation reveals that the excavator operator was distracted, impaired by drugs or alcohol, negligent or too tired to drive safely, however, the deceased police officer’s family may have a strong case for securing compensation.

EJL