Lisa Wilner Killed in Rutherford County Truck Accident
The collision occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 24 near mile marker 67.
Lisa Wilner, 58, was killed in a collision with a commercial semi-truck on Interstate 24 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on April 16, according to the Highway Patrol.
A westbound 2022 Chevrolet Silverado rear-ended the trailer of the semi-truck and became wedged underneath it. Both vehicles eventually came to a stop in the travel lanes.
The 72-year-old driver of the pickup truck also died in the crash. The operator of the commercial vehicle was not injured.
Troopers continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the underride collision. No further details regarding road conditions or vehicle speeds were immediately released.
The collision that killed Wilner on Interstate 24 involved a pickup truck becoming wedged under the trailer of a semi-truck, a type of crash known as an underride collision. These incidents often result in severe damage due to the smaller vehicle sliding beneath the larger one, bypassing safety features designed for head-on impacts. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the factors that led to the Chevrolet Silverado rear-ending the semi-truck.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Time is of the essence in cases such, and families must be ensured that evidence is reviewed efficiently." Bond said. "It's hard to grasp that a truck needs two full football fields to stop, so there's almost no room for error."
National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal. "I've seen families shattered by a truck's shifting load that caused a sudden, violent rollover," Formica stated. "When cargo isn't secured, it creates a waterfall effect that'll flip an eighty-thousand-pound trailer in a heartbeat."
What is an underride collision?
An underride collision occurs when a smaller vehicle, like the Chevrolet Silverado in this incident, slides underneath the trailer of a larger truck. This can happen in rear-end, side, or front-end impacts with a truck.
How do investigators determine fault in a rear-end truck crash?
Investigators examine several factors, including vehicle speed, driver distraction, road conditions, and mechanical failures. They also look at event data recorders from both vehicles, if available, to understand pre-crash events.
What safety features are designed to prevent underride collisions?
Many semi-trucks are equipped with underride guards, particularly at the rear, to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding completely underneath the trailer. The effectiveness of these guards can vary depending on the impact angle and speed.
Tennessee wrongful death statute
Under Tenn. Code § 20-5-106, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Tennessee applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations is 1 year.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.