Tractor Trailer Wreck on I-40
The Shelby County Sheriff's department is reporting that there has been a major crash today on I-40 west coming into Memphis from Nashville/Jackson.
Apparently a Shelby County Sheriff's deputy pulled a car over on I-40 and was in the process of issuing a ticket when other cars slowed down in order to safely avoid the police officer and the pulled over car. A Pontiac Grand Prix that had slowed down was hit from behind by a large tractor-trailer that was obviously not paying attention, driving too close or going too fast (or combination of all of these). The end result was that the three passengers in the grand prix were injured. Sadly this included a three-year old who had to be airlifted by helicopter to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.
I-40 is an extremely dangerous section of interstate. Just this past fall I was returning from Knoxville with family and friends when I was run off the road and into the median by an 18-wheeler that was not paying attention while they were driving. Luckily for me and my family no-one was injured. However, that was the third time I had been driven off the road on this stretch of interstate in less than two years.
My sympathy and prayers go out to the family of the three-year old. My daughter is three and I know it would devastate me if anything happened to her. Everyone reading my blog tonight, I ask that you keep this family in your prayers as well.
Remember, when you're driving ALWAYS be a defensive driver. You never know what the person next to you is going to do. It seems that the driver of the 18-wheeler was clearly negligent and his negligence is hurting a family tonight. Even if this family hires an attorney and collects because of the drivers negligence, I'm sure that they'd much rather have their child at home and injury free instead of any money they will surely receive.
