A man from Ocean Township, New Jersey was killed on Sept. 6 after his SUV was rear-ended by an allegedly drunk tractor-trailer driver.

The fatal truck crash occurred at 3:36 PM on the southbound side of Route 440 near milepost 2.7. The tractor-trailer slammed into the back of a Hyundai Sonata and then jackknifed. Two other cars were struck, as well.

The victim was Jason Appio, 45. He was the driver of the SUV that was pushed into another vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the crash scene.

The truck driver was Aleksander Isserovich, 38, from Brooklyn, New York. He was charged with DUI. He was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.

According to the prosecutor’s office, someone dialed 911 and reported that the truck driver was driving erratically.

Our View

Our tractor trailer accident attorneys send condolences to the family of the deceased New Jersey man. There are simply too many deadly accidents that happen due to drunk drivers; the NHTSA states that there were 9967 traffic fatalities in 2014 from drunk drivers. Accidents involving drinking and truck drivers are even more alarming. But did you know that it is possible for truck drivers to get a commercial driver’s license even after a DUI conviction?

As hard as this is to believe, there are some trucking companies that may hire a truck driver with a previous DUI. It depends on the company, but most will allow a truck driver to be hired after a drunk driving conviction that is five to seven years old.

According to the website TruckingTruth.com, here are the DUI policies of some large trucking companies:

• Prime: No failed or refused drug or alcohol tests in the last three years.
• Werner Enterprise: No DUIs in the last three years
• Wilson Trucking: No DUIs in the last three years.
• Midwest Motor Express: No DUIs in the last three years

Our personal injury attorneys find it hard to believe that a driver can actually get a CDL after a DUI conviction, but that is the case, according to information we have read. However, FMCSA regulations state that if you have a second DUI conviction while operating any type of motor vehicle, this will result in a lifetime ban from holding a CDL.

Anyone who has lost a loved one to a tractor trailer accident is facing a devastating loss. Depending upon the circumstances, you could be entitled to a large settlement or verdict to compensate you for your terrible emotional and financial loss.