In the US, over 15 million commercial trucks transport 70 percent of goods in the country each year. A large number of trucks on the roads also results in a large number of fateful accidents. According to FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) data, there was a 34 percent decrease in the number of fatal accidents involving commercial trucks between 2005 and 2009. But in a disturbing trend, this reduction was followed by an increase of 45 percent between 2009 and 2018.

A driver rammed a rented truck into seven other vehicles in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, causing many injuries. The driver was identified as convicted felon Devon Brandon. Authorities said the crash happened because the 36-year-old was driving under the influence. The 2017 incident underscores the severity of drunk driving as a contributor to injuries and deaths on NYC roads. 

Right after the incident, Brandon tried to escape the scene in a fire truck that responded to the multi-vehicle collision. Despite the comical nature of the event, the crash injured nine people, including Brandon.