Arizona investigators say a driver who was asleep at the wheel caused a chain reaction auto accident in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 3. The accident occurred around 8:00am in an area of north Phoenix.

The accident apparently occurred when the driver of a pickup that was pulling a trailer nodded off and hit another truck. That truck then spun around and hit two other automobiles head-on. Rescuers had to extricate one of the drivers from their vehicle.

Three people were taken to area hospitals where one of them, a 32-year-old man, is listed in serious condition. The other two accident victims' injuries are not known as of this writing.

Falling asleep at the wheel of a vehicle is an entirely preventable auto accident scenario. We are used to hearing about semi truck operators who fall asleep due to their demanding and stressful schedule, but don't hear as much about other drivers falling asleep.

The fix is easy: If you are exhausted, do not drive. There are warnings and signs posted everywhere, as well as public service announcements about pulling over and getting sleep if you are on the road and tired. Common sense should also tell you when you are not able to drive. However, falling asleep while driving on a city street is not like being lulled to sleep while on a straight highway, with not a lot of stimulation to keep you awake.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another party falling asleep at the wheel, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area for an initial case consultation.

An auto accident between an SUV and an ambulance in Ft. Pierce, Florida on Tuesday, March 2, killed one person and injured two.

The accident occurred at an intersection where the ambulance was stopped and waiting to make a left turn. According to police, a white Nissan SUV collided with the ambulance, knocking the ambulance onto its side. The driver of the ambulance was treated and released, the medic in the passenger seat is listed in critical condition. The 63-year-old driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The posted speed limit is 45mph, but witnesses say it seemed the SUV was going twice that as it approached the intersection. One witness said the SUV didn't even slow as it hit a hump in the road, seemed to lift in the air, and hit the ambulance.

Investigators closed the road for three hours after the accident, but say the investigation into what caused it will be ongoing.

SUVs are large and heavy, and drivers do not always understand that they can do so much damage if they hit something. If the SUV in this case were to hit a smaller passenger car, there may have been more people who died.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area for an initial case consultation.