Police say brake failure to blame for warehouse crash that killed truck driver

Authorities in Washington state say that defective brakes triggered a fatal crash at a Pierce County warehouse on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on April 5 as a truck driver hauling a load of crushed vehicles was traveling downhill on Waller Road in Tacoma, Washington, according to a news release from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

As the truck approached the intersection with Pioneer Way, the vehicle’s brakes failed. Police say that the truck driver was able to avoid striking several cars as he went through the intersection.

The truck driver entered a warehouse parking lot and turned to try to avoid hitting the building.

This caused the truck to roll over and strike another trailer, then hit the building.

The 45 year old truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Commercial vehicle enforcement officers from the Washington State Patrol inspected the truck and confirmed that some of the brakes were defective and the driver could not stop,” the news release stated.