On Sunday night, a family of three was killed in a wreck involving a semi truck in Buncombe County. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the collision happened at about 8:40 p.m., in the eastbound lane of I-40, near mile-maker 56. For currently unknown reasons, a tractor-trailer merged into the right lane and into the path of a 1998 Ford Escort. The Escort was run off of the roadway and crashed into a heavily wooded area. The car hit multiple trees before stopping.

Buncombe Family Killed in Truck Crash

The family, 32-year-old Justin Lavender, 33-year-old Melissa Walker and 10-month-old Lincoln Lavender died on the scene. They were all buckled up, and the child was in a car seat. The driver of the car, 54-year-old Sandra Davis, the child’s grandmother, was rushed to Mission Hospital where she was reportedly stabilized in serious condition. At this time, authorities don’t suspect drugs or alcohol to have been factors in the crash, but the truck driver, 51-year-old Douglas Olney has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle. There is still no word on why his truck merged into another lane.

Large Truck Accidents

Accidents involving large trucks are often devastating for smaller passenger occupant vehicles. Since semi trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs, drivers and commercial trucking companies have additional federal regulations to follow. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency tasked with regulating the commercial trucking industry. Where truck accidents are concerned, investigations can be lengthy and in depth. Multiple investigating agencies might be involved, so it’s up to your attorney to stay on top of any official developments. In any kind of truck accident, it’s important to determine whether or not the truck driver was driving negligently or dangerously. Investigators need to find out if any federal, state or local regulations were violated.

Truck Accidents in Buncombe County

Truck accidents, even at seemingly minor speeds, can be devastating and catastrophic for families in Asheville and across the country. The whole team at Davis Law Group, P.A. sends their deepest heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Justin Lavender, Melissa Walker and Lincoln Lavender. We also wish a swift and full recovery for Sandra Davis.