A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) shuttle bus driver is facing vehicular manslaughter charges due to his role in a fatal accident that took place last year on Octavia Boulevard. The San Francisco Examiner reports that Wallace J. Richardson, was driving a shuttle bus that collided with a big rig truck on July 14, 2011. Unfortunately, a 52-year-old passenger died as a result of the crash. Four others were also injured in the accident.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Oak Street and Octavia Boulevard, an intersection that locals say is notoriously dangerous. In collisions involving municipal buses--or, as in this case, a university shuttle bus--Bay Area accident lawyers know that both passengers and pedestrians can be gravely injured. In this accident, Dr. Kevin Mack, a passenger in the shuttle bus, was thrown through the windshield. He later died from injuries caused by the crash. The driver of the shuttle bus suffered minor injuries, and the big-rig driver was not hurt.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the UCSF driver was distracted and ran a red light, causing the collision with the big rig truck. Despite slamming on his brakes, the big-rig driver, who was traveling through a green light, could not stop in time to avoid the crash. The big-rig truck driver claimed that the shuttle bus "came out of nowhere." As part of the investigation, police examined video footage from the scene. The UCSF shuttle bus driver turned himself into police after an arrest warrant was issued. He was later released on bail.
The intersection of Oak and Octavia has a history of accidents. In 2006, there were 14 injury accidents at the intersection, likely connected to freeway traffic coming to the area. Conditions have improved in recent years due to city efforts. Signal timing has been improved, and a red light camera has been installed. In 2010, there were four injury accidents at the intersection.
Although the truck driver in this accident apparently was not at fault, Bay Area truck accident lawyers know that truck injury accidents differ from typical accident cases in several ways, making it crucial to develop important evidence in order to obtain full recovery. One difference is that in accidents in which vehicles or pedestrians are hit by large trucks, the physics of a very massive vehicle striking a person or car mean that the impact force is much more than normal, resulting in greater injuries. Even a low-speed impact from a very heavy vehicle can cause severe damage. This can mean a longer and more painful recovery for accident victims, resulting in more missed work and high medical bills.
Driver fatigue and the extra mass that makes trucks much slower to stop than passenger cars are other factors that make truck accident cases unique. Those working in our area understand that contacting a qualified professional as soon as possible after your accident can greatly increase your chances of a positive outcome. The San Francisco truck accident attorneys at Callaway & Wolf have the knowledge and experience to handle your case. Please consider giving our office a call if you find yourself in this situation.
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