Log Truck Driver Injured During Crash While Not Wearing A Seatbelt

BACKGROUND: On a fall morning in the Southeastern U.S., a truck driver hauling an empty log trailer was traveling eastbound on a state highway. The logging crew was in the process of moving to a new tract. The driver was driving the posted speed limit which ranged from 55 to 65 mph. Conditions were clear and dry, so the weather was not a contributing factor to the accident.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The driver had worked for the business owner for approximately three years and was considered a great employee. The driver did have over 20 years of experience hauling a wide variety of loads while owning his own trucking company. The driver and logging business owner had known each other for over 30 years.

ACCIDENT: A witness traveling behind the truck driver observed the truck leave the road, travel into a ditch, then strike a raised driveway bank. The truck came to a stop on the other side of the driveway. The witness contacted authorities to report the accident, then called the business owner to notify him that one of his trucks was involved in an accident. The accident occurred approximately eight miles away from the logging job site.

INJURY: County rescue workers found the driver lying in the passenger floorboard of the cab. He had sustained injuries to his right leg in addition to head lacerations. The driver was extracted from the cab around the time additional EMS personnel arrived on the scene. The driver was transported to a local medical center for further evaluation and treatment. While shaken from the accident, the driver did not sustain any serious injuries.

The driver was not able to communicate with first responders and did not indicate a cause for the accident. He later claimed that he ran off the road to avoid hitting a deer and lost control of the truck and trailer. A post-accident inspection revealed that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt. The cab did not have a dash camera system installed.

UNSAFE ACTS/CONDITIONS: 

• The driver was not wearing a seatbelt
• The driver drove his truck off the road to avoid hitting a deer
• The driver failed to maintain control of his truck and trailer while driving

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• Always wear a seatbelt while traveling in a moving vehicle
• Keep tires on the pavement at all times to maintain proper control
• Always stay alert and focused on driving
• Consider requiring all employees sign a “safety rules document” to ensure understanding of company safety policies and rules compliance
• Be vigilant when deer are active, especially at night and during hunting seasons
• Consider dash camera installation on all trucks

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