The crash occurred on September 17th, 2024, at 8:15 AM on MO Route 19, 1,200 feet south of PVT Cedar Grove Road. 19-year-old Bryce E. Williams was travelling southbound in a 2020 Volkwagen Passat. Ahead of them, a 2022 Freightliner M2 waste collection truck was also traveling southbound before stopping in the roadway. As the garbage truck stopped, the occupants began to exit the vehicle, including 21-year-old Ronald J. Hagenhoff. The crash occurred when Williams in the Volkswagen failed to notice the stopped waste collection vehicle before striking the rear of the truck. The impact caused garbage debris to strike Ronald Hagenhoff, who was still outside of the vehicle at the time. Ronald Hagenhoff sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Bryce Williams was moderately injured and was transported to University Hospital via Hermann EMS. The Volkswagen Passat was totaled and towed by Hagedorn’s Towing while the Freightliner M2 sustained minor damages and was driven from the scene.
Stopped vehicles in the roadway pose a real and consistent danger to anyone near the potential location of a crash. Studies show that the typical driver takes an average of 2.5 seconds to begin braking after reacting to an oncoming obstacle. This results in many situations where even an experienced driver is unable to avoid impacting with a vehicle or object that is ahead of them while driving. Those whose jobs require them to work near stopped vehicles, such as waste collection workers, are exposed to an additional layer of threat on a regular basis. When you’re hurt in a motor vehicle accident, it’s helpful to have a personal injury attorney on your side. The AW Smith Law Firm has worked with thousands of people who have been injured in auto accidents, including those where either the victim or at-fault party were on the job at the time. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash like this one, do not hesitate to reach out. The AW Smith Law Firm is available to provide direction and support for you.