Two Drivers Dead After Tragic Collision Between Dump Trucks in West Charlotte

Author: Auger Law | August 6th, 2021

Two people are dead following a collision between two dump trucks in West Charlotte on Wednesday, August 5.

Authorities say the accident occurred around 1:15 p.m. on Moores Chapel Road near Wilkinson Boulevard.

One dump truck, a 2006 Mack, was moving north on Moores Chapel Road and went off the roadway, overcorrected, crossed the centerline and slid sideways. The other dump truck, a 2017 Kenilworth, was driving south when the driver attempted to avoid the oncoming dump truck and drove off the road slightly to his right. Unfortunately, the collision happened anyway. The Mack spun around, ejecting the driver. Its engine and transmission separated from the vehicle, investigators said.

Meanwhile, the impact caused the Kenilworth truck to go off the road to the right and down an embankment, where it caught on fire.

Sadly, both drivers, Darius Lashawn Sweezy, 26, and Donald G. Burnette, 66, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Unfortunately, fatal traffic accidents on the job are not uncommon. In 2019 alone, there were 5,333 work-related fatalities, and of those, 1,270 involved roadway incidents. Although people in passenger vehicles are more likely to be  hurt or killed in a collision with a large commercial vehicle, sometimes these crashes can cause serious injury or death for the commercial vehicle driver as well.

There are many possible causes of head-on crashes, including impaired or distracted driving, speeding, difficulties with road design, and driver confusion.

If you know a surviving family member of a person who was injured or killed in an accident, please encourage them to contact our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, with no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.

For over 25 years the attorneys at Auger & Auger have been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We have years of experience guiding and helping our clients every step of the way to receive compensation for aspects such as medical bills, funeral costs, and other monetary losses. 

Editorial Note: At A&A we are always looking to improve the quality and safety and are saddened by the outcome of many tragic accidents across the Carolinas. The purpose of this news blog is to write about cases relevant to our industry and raise awareness about injury cases so that victims of similar incidents can educate themselves on theories of liability, the law, and how personal injury cases typically work. This article is created using publicly available information and is a secondary source. If you find any information here to be inaccurate, please notify us at [email protected], and we will make the appropriate adjustments. 

Posted In: Carolina Accident News