Union County Tractor Trailer Crash Injures NC State Trooper, Construction Worker

A North Carolina state trooper and construction worker were among those injured when a tractor-trailer driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, crashing into three vehicles.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Tuesday night in Union County on the eastbound lanes of Monroe Expressway near Hemby Bridge.

According to law enforcement and as reported by WSOCTV, the tractor-trailer slammed into a construction truck and separated, hitting the state trooper’s patrol car and triggering a chain reaction in which another construction truck was also hit.

Witnesses say the patrol car flipped.

Both the state trooper and construction worker suffered what are being described by authorities as non-life-threatening injuries, and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The truck accident lawyers at Riddle & Brantley fight aggressively for your rights and level the playing field.

“Our law enforcement officers and construction workers put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve justice.” -Gene Riddle

Union County truck crash highlights dangers of drowsy driving in North Carolina

The Union County truck crash highlights the dangers of drowsy driving for motorists. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), drowsy driving is a factor in 20 percent of fatal accidents in the United States.

According to a study by the AAA, the risk of an auto accident:

• Doubles for drivers missing one or two hours of sleep
• Quadruples for drivers missing three to four hours of sleep
• Increases 11.5 times for drivers who have slept less than four hours in a 24-hour period

Large trucks are required to have an electronic logging device which tracks a driver’s hours. By law, truck drivers are only allowed to drive a certain number of hours before they must rest.