As truck drivers travel through South Carolina and the rest of the country, the risk of being involved in an accident is always present. Sometimes, however, the worst dangers to truck drivers are when they are not driving but, instead, are dealing with their loads. It is under these circumstances that a log truck driver was fatally injured on the job recently.
The driver was in a line of trucks waiting to unload at a site. As he waited, he apparently decided to get out of his truck to remove the warning flag from his load. As he did so, another truck loaded with logs pulled in behind the 51-year-old man’s truck. That driver also got out of his truck and went to the back of his truck.
Somehow, the driver failed to make sure that the truck would not move, and it began to roll. It slammed into the other driver and his truck, pinning him between the two fully loaded trucks. Fortunately, officials believe that his death was instantaneous. The South Carolina Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident.
While authorities complete their investigation, the family of the victim is undoubtedly grieving their loss.
In addition to the emotional impact of the tragedy, the financial loss could be devastating as well. The workers’ compensation system often provides death benefits to family members of workers fatally injured on the job. These benefits could help pay for his burial and provide them with a compensation package for the loss of his income, which could provide them important relief as they struggle to come to terms with his untimely passing.
