Many people may not be familiar with the fact that the drivers of tractor-trailers have to adhere to different DUI levels than regular motorists. In California, the cutoff for a person with a commercial driver’s license, which many truckers must possess, is .4% instead of 0.8%. These drivers must also undergo rigorous training as well, which usually consists of weeks of classroom learning followed by being paired with an experienced driver for a few weeks of training.
The majority of accidents with tractor-trailers are not caused by the drivers of the trucks, but by other motorists. NBC Los Angeles reports on a story where a suspected DUI driver crashed into a tractor-trailer, claiming the life of a grandmother.
45-year-old Oscar Montano and his wife, 45-year-old Veronica Gonzales were in Montano’s semi-trailer on Saturday morning when a suspected DUI driver crashed into their truck.
The accident caused the cab of the truck to erupt into flames. Montano was able to escape from the vehicle, but Gonzales was unable to get free. She was killed in the flames.
Montano escaped with burns on his body and glass shards in his arms. He was still in the hospital as of Sunday and information about his condition was not available.
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident. However, 23-year-old Elvis Hernandez Tellez, who was the driver of the other vehicle, was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
