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Tractor-trailer driver charged in deaths of 2 in Memphis

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Tractor-trailer driver charged in deaths of 2 in Memphis
A tractor-trailer driver has been charged in death of two people in a June 2 accident in southeast Memphis, Tennessee.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A tractor-trailer driver has been charged in death of two people in a June 2 accident in southeast Memphis, Tennessee.

WATN reports that the accident happened after the driver of a UPS tractor-trailer collided with a 2003 Mercury Marquise at 3676 Swinnea Road in Memphis as he was exiting a private driveway.

McDonald’s 2013 Freightliner was pulling a 63-foot trailer as he made the left turn from the private drive into the center lane, according to police. Police said McDonald stopped in the center lane, waiting for the northbound lanes to clear, but did not totally clear the left southbound travel lane.

The Mercury Marquise was traveling southbound while part of the trailer was stopped in the travel lane leading to the collision. Two people in the Mercury Marquise, the 48-year-old male driver and a 44-year-old female passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

McDonald was arrested and charged with unlawfully committing the offense of fail to yield with serious injury/death, according to the Memphis Police Department. His bond was set at $1,000 and has been paid. His arraignment was set for Monday, June 6.

The Trucker News Staff

The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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9 Comments

As truck driver myself I can see how some of those laws try to make it safer the highways and instates but it always being our faults is b. S if cop schools and others that make them would follow there laws as what they get away with them selfs is why American is like it is now it’s blame us trucker which I have to say there’s a lot of them that needs there head pulled out of there back side when I started you could only have one ear covered but now days these damn school breaks the laws when teaching them laws say slow moving vehicles must stated the right lane on interstates they won’t do so cops will not write tickets like they’re supposed to to the ones that’s out here running around with the phones up their ear or both ears covered or out here holding up traffic in the middle of interstates any slow-ass company trucks that these insurance companies are taking control of and ruling and tell he’s coming over that creates death and chaos on the interstate more road rage because people can’t pass and a hindrance to people traveling the speed limit is 70 mph that’s what all trucks run at least one to two mile an hour over whatever the postage State speed limit is screw the damn insurance people quit letting them take charge police departments and police officers need to quit getting basically brownie points and bigger points to write tickets for truck drivers and quit being trained to always try to blame a truck driver to be a fault during a traffic accident or anything and they can’t deny that they are trained that way because if they do their damn liars because they do train them to always try to blame in our truck driver the one America’s in the chaos and basically overwhelmed with hurricanes tidal waves the covid-19 bullshit that we put our lives and our families lives at risk to be out there to make sure America still gets what they need to live everyday one day maybe these people might wise up just like the stupid son of bitches in America it’s up there in our country up more than Obama did that if the original and the right people in the state of minds would say you know what let’s show these people in America just how much we can stop this country and quit moving these trucks they have no food they have no clothes they have no medical supplies they have nothing no gas no rubber tires no nothing without these truck drivers keep pissing on us and keep the one the laws our way that you want to throw off on us and stop breaking the damn laws that you took uphold government state local whatever Federal I start doing the job that you took a fucking off to do Sherman protect uphold the law of the way the law was written not be oh well we’re exempt with your cops we can ride around on our cell phone bullshit you got a laptop and a fucking two-way radio why do you need your cell phone the flirt with a link local convenience store girl while you’re on duty secondary of all if y’all stupid son of the bitches cannot write us a ticket for the law the way it’s written it’s always improper that’s not the way the law is written guilty or the man’s not guilty leave it at that and y’all stupid one day whenever your family can’t get their next meal or your family member can’t get their next medications to live on or whatever because those truck drivers got tired of being screwed over for once in our life and we stand up and we stand up firm y’all tried to shit before when he blocked the interstates Farmers still come and help this didn’t they because the farmers is the same type of people we are that’s how they make their living so fuck with us so with that being said you know what about the people in the car were they speeding won’t you look at that before you arrest the driver that wrestling UPS

It’s unfair that the UPS driver is being charged for the deaths of 2 people. It would make more sense if the truck driver ran into the car killing the 2. I don’t see how the driver of the car didn’t see the trailer in his lane and make the necessary changes to avoid hitting it! I would hope that driver of the car wasn’t texting.

As a truck driver, we are expected to do whatever needs to be done to get the delivery made, but if a place is not made for tractor trailer to get in and out of them the driver is in trouble if something happens just for trying to do his job ! If people want there delivery then they need to make sure trucks can get in and out safely, if not they need to make other arrangements, I will not take a chance on losing my livelyhood to make someone else happy, I come first for now on, if that’s a problem then fire me!

They only sue the truck driving because their pockets are deeper. Again, another instance where the law protect the citizens at the expense of the trucker. That auto driver struck the truck which is 9 times out of 10 the drivers that made contact is to blame. As any driver is responsible for maneuvering their vehicle safely. I’m curious if the 2 dead people had passed a drug and alcohol screening test or not?

There were not enough details given in the story to determine fault. If the truck was unable to straighten his vehicle completely before attempting to make a left turn, judgement or road design may come into play.
If he was pulling out of a tight entrance and making a right turn onto the street, he should have waited until he had the time he could completely clear the travel lane.
This is not a the place to cast judgements with out having a complete investigation. And yes the automobile driver may have had a big hand in the accident. There again a good investigator will check cellphone usage, drug and alcohol usage, and witness statements. Remember that the truck driver was charged and no trial has taken place. He is innocent until proven guilty or admits fault.

Have they noticed how these four wheelers drive around us? Speaking highly of just a few to name, but there are other places too( Dallas Atlanta Memphis just to name a few. They literally seem to leave the house or whatever with no intentions of returning. They wait till the last second then pull out in front of trucks. I dont see why they cant wait 2 seconds for the rig to pass, but pull out and come to a stop because they have to turn off, but the whole time forgot they just turned out in front of a truck. That’s bullshit to charge that driver, I bet they were driving fast ,and crazy like they always do. Sound like to me they just rolled snake eyes !! That stupid driving cost them this time. I feel they should have been paying attention just like we have to at all times.

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