Truck Driver Not Expected to be Charged

WASHINGTON - Police do not expect to file charges against the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in last week's crash that killed four young women on the Beltway.

In fact, a new federal study finds that fatal collisions between trucks and cars are the fault of the car driver 56 percent of the time.

"Car drivers really need to give more room to these larger vehicles," says John Hill of the U.S. Department of Transportation. "It's clearly not a good idea to cut off a large truck."

Lon Anderson with Mid-Atlantic AAA thought the statistics would lean even more favorably for truck drivers.

"One would expect the amateurs, the car drivers, to be at fault many more times than the pros -- the truck drivers. I think this reminds everybody that all drivers need to take responsibility."

Anderson says 90 percent of the people who die in a car-truck crash are in the car. To avoid this statistic, Hill says it's important to allow plenty of room when maneuvering around a truck.

The June 15 crash claimed the lives of four young women, including two teenagers who had graduated from high school hours earlier.

Another person in the car remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

Shortly before 11 p.m., the Volkswagen Cabriolet the victims were riding in changed lanes and entered the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer, and then cut through the white striped triangular-shaped safety zone where exit ramp lanes for Interstate 95 South split off the Inner Loop.

Police say alcohol was found inside the car, but don't know if it was a factor in the crash.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)