Police have taken legal action against a lorry driver after a deadly accident near Mapleton. Yuhai Zhu, a 52-year-old truck driver, was placed under arrest on a charge of manslaughter. The accident killed 72-year-old B.C. man Randall Buxton. According to police, the accident happened at about 1:45pm on March 15.
Zhu was driving a Volvo that was transporting ethylene glycol, commonly used as de-icing agent for aircraft. The NDHP report said Zhu pulled over in the right lane on westbound I-94 for undisclosed reasons. Buxton, who was driving a truck, was transporting major HVAC gear. Approaching the Volvo in the right lane of highway, he veered left, but collided with the tanker. As a result of the collision, the Volvo was thrown off the highway and partially ran off into the ditch. Unfortunately, Buxton's truck burst into flames and he could not escape from the cab, resulting in his untimely death.
Zhu was not injured in the accident and authorities charged him with negligent homicide for his role in the accident. Zhu's reasons for stopping in the right lane are still unknown and are being investigated. Zhu's arrest has raised questions about safety protocols and regulations concerning truck drivers, especially when it comes to handling hazardous materials.
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