Trinity County, CA (September 11, 2024) – On Wednesday morning, September 11, 2024, a severe accident on Highway 299, just east of Fawn Lodge, resulted in major injuries for two individuals.
Accident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred around 6:50 a.m. when a Peterbilt logging truck and a Hyundai Sonata were involved in a serious collision.
Danny Milholland was driving the logging truck westbound on Highway 299 when he reportedly lost control due to unsafe speed. The truck overturned into the eastbound lane, spilling its load of logs. Jolene Eye was traveling eastbound in her Hyundai Sonata. She attempted to evade the falling logs but could not avoid the collision. The logs struck the Hyundai, pushing it backward off the roadway and down an embankment.
Eye and her passenger, Carmen Busbee, sustained major injuries and were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Milholland was uninjured. The CHP has indicated that alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in the accident.
Legal Considerations: As a personal injury attorney, I find that this tragic accident raises several critical questions regarding liability and the potential avenues for legal investigation:
- Speed and Vehicle Control: The CHP’s report highlights the truck’s unsafe speed. If the truck operated beyond safe speed limits, this could establish liability for the driver and the company owning the vehicle.
- Load Securement: The logs falling onto the roadway indicate a possible issue with how the load was secured, implicating the cargo loader’s liability.
- Road Conditions: While the CHP did not mention road conditions as a contributing factor, it is important to examine whether road conditions or signage may have played a role.
- Driver’s History and Training: Evaluating Milholland’s driving history and his training in operating heavy equipment could provide insights into whether this accident could have been avoided with better practices or oversight.
If negligence is determined, Jolene Eye and Carmen Busbee may be entitled to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, and other related damages.
My sincerest thoughts are with Jolene Eye and Carmen Busbee as they recover from their injuries.
Source: Action News Now