On May 16, 2016, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Linda Iverson-Gutierrez was slowing in traffic on CA Highway 99, when a tractor-trailer following her Ford Edge failed to slow down. The semi crashed in the back of the Ford Edge causing the vehicle to crash into a cement retaining wall.
Ms. Iverson-Gutierrez was fatally injured in the crash. Her 17 year-old passenger was transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, for treatment of an arm fracture.
The truck driver was not injured. The crash is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The results of the investigation will be sent to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
Truck driver fatigue has been recognized as a major safety concern and a contributing factor to fatal truck crashes for over 70 years. Studies sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reveal that 65% of truck drivers report that they often or sometimes feel drowsy while driving and nearly half of truck drivers admit that they had actually fallen asleep while driving in the previous year.
To find more information please visit the website: https://trucksafety.org or send an email to info@trucksafety.org