Oxford County police have identified the individual who was killed in a three-vehicle collision that occurred on June 23 on Mayville Road in Bethel. Chief Deputy James Urquhart identified Brent Angevine, age 50, as the deceased driver.
According to Chief Urquhart, Angevine was behind the wheel of a 2008 Honda Element and had to slow down for a vehicle that was pulling into a driveway. Llewellyn Cobb, age 65, was driving a 2015 Nissan Frontier and had to slow down for the vehicle making the turn, as well. Both Angevine and Cobb’s vehicles were struck by Silvian Sweetser, age 18, who was driving a 2019 Mack tractor-trailer. Chief Urquhart stated that Sweetser failed to slow down before hitting the vehicles from behind.
Responders to the accident took Angevine to a local hospital, where he eventually died from the devastating injuries sustained in the crash. The two other drivers were treated at the scene of the accident and released. Although no charges have been filed, Chief Urquhart said the crash is still being investigated by authorities.
Investigating the Cause of Fatal Truck Accidents
The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. Because of their sheer size, when a truck collides with a passenger vehicle, unfortunately, the results are often catastrophic. Despite strict regulations, deaths caused by trucking accidents are still on the rise nationwide. In October of 2019, the National Highway Transportation Administration released data for 2018 showing a 1% increase in trucking-related fatalities over the previous year and an overall upward trend over a four-year period.
What happened in Bethel on Tuesday is another sad reminder that commercial trucks are big and dangerous vehicles that need to be operated with care, attention, and by qualified drivers and companies. Even in light of the myriad of state and federal regulations, every day we share our roads with unsafe trucks, unsafe and unqualified truck drivers, and trucking companies who treat safety as an afterthought, not a priority.
Investigating a trucking accident is not the same as investigating a crash involving two passenger cars. An attorney with experience handling trucking cases who knows the regulations and knows how to determine if the truck, trucker, and the trucking company were all in compliance with those regulations is crucial for holding the negligent party accountable for their actions.
Call Today to Speak to Our Skilled Truck Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a devastating truck accident in New Hampshire, then please reach out to our dedicated team of compassionate legal professionals so that we can discuss your situation and use our extensive resources to determine who should be held liable for the damages you suffered. Our firm has decades of experience fighting for the rights and defending the best interests of our clients, and we are prepared to put our skills to work for you today.
To set up a case consultation with a lawyer at Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., please give us a call at (888) 801-9916.
