CSDD says truck likely missed car’s left turn on Ventspils highway

Latvia’s Road Traffic Safety Directorate, or CSDD, said on Monday that a truck driver most likely failed to notice a Volkswagen preparing to turn left on the A10 Ventspils highway, causing a fatal crash on Sunday, LSM reported.

The Volkswagen driver, who died in the crash, was probably not responsible for the accident, according to the CSDD’s preliminary assessment. The truck struck the Volkswagen from behind, pushing it into the oncoming lane.

CSDD road safety expert Oskars Irbītis said the truck driver noticed the situation too late and tried to avoid the Volkswagen, but failed. The truck hit the Volkswagen’s rear right corner.

The impact sent the Volkswagen into the opposite lane, where it collided with an oncoming passenger car. The Volkswagen was then pushed back into its own lane, while the other car lost control and left the road on the opposite side.

The crash occurred near Straupciems, where more than 15,000 vehicles travel each day on average. The beginning of the Ventspils highway has many places where drivers can turn left, according to the report.

Relatives of the dead man placed flowers and candles at the crash scene on Monday. His sister said he lived in a nearby house and had been driving home from celebrations for her name day on Sunday. She said he had not consumed alcohol and was generally very conscientious.

Crash witness Gita Rengarte said people tried to pull the man from the vehicle. He had been wearing a seat belt, and witnesses used scissors or a knife to cut it before pulling him out.