A California Highway Patrol officer was transported to a hospital with injuries after he was rear-ended by a delivery truck driver who had fallen asleep. According to a report in the Fairfield Daily Republic, CHP officials said the delivery truck was moving quickly and had not engaged the brakes when it struck the cruiser and pushed it to the car ahead. The incident occurred on eastbound West Texas Street, west of Pennsylvania Avenue, in Fairfield, California.
Truck Driver Asleep at the Wheel
The delivery truck driver told officers at the scene that he had fallen asleep. We suspect neither alcohol nor drugs played a role in this crash. The officer complained of neck and back pain. His injuries are not life-threatening, CHP officials said. However, his patrol car was totaled. No one else was injured in the crash. The investigation is ongoing. We are relieved that this rear-end collision did not result in catastrophic injuries. We wish the injured CHP officer the best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Dangers of Fatigued Driving
According to the National Sleep Foundation, drowsy driving significantly increases the risk of car accidents. “Microsleeps” are when a person dozes off for just a few seconds. However, when they occur while driving, a lot could happen within those few seconds. A vehicle could run off the road or rear-end another vehicle, as in this particular case. The damage from these crashes increases when they occur at higher speeds.
Experts say drowsy driving can be dangerous even when a person doesn’t fall asleep. Research shows that sleep deprivation could lead to mental impairment that is similar to intoxication, with 24 hours of sleep deprivation roughly equating to a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%. This type of impairment could make drivers less attentive to their surroundings. It slows reaction time, making it more difficult for drivers to avoid dangers on the roadway. Experts say that inadequate sleep may also lead to worse decision-making behind the wheel.
Because truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel, they are at particular risk of drowsy driving.
Sleepy Driving and Negligence
In this case, the truck driver was on the job when he crashed into the cruiser. The officer may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits because he was on the job. He may also file a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver and his employer, seeking compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, hospital costs, rehabilitation expenses, and pain and suffering. An experienced car accident lawyer can advise injured victims in these cases regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-dr-news/solano-news/fairfield/chp-officer-injured-after-cruiser-hit-by-sleeping-motorist/
