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.