Truck Company Involved in Horrific Wreck Still Rated “Satisfactory” for Safety

RICHMOND, IN- Pal-item.com writes that a truck driver caused a horrific collision that killed four children this month. Investigators found that the driver was licensed, even though he had previous felony convictions for drug use.* 

On the day of the crash, the trucker was speeding at 72 miles per hour and collided with the victims’ car. The company where the trucker was employed has the highest safety rating based on federal standards. 

The driver’s employer is based out of Ohio, and the 31-year-old from Camden held a valid commercial driver’s license on the day of the wreck. Drivers who have previous felonies are not prohibited from obtaining a CDL, and if they commit a violation in either their private vehicle or a commercial vehicle, their licenses may be suspended. Such suspensions may last for life, but may also only last 60 days. 

Wayne County is seeking the driver’s immediate suspension. The company is not responding to requests for comment as they say the investigation is still ongoing. 

Prior to the collision, witnesses say that the truck was traveling erratically and that the driver ran another truck off the roadway. As traffic slowed in a construction zone, the trucker failed to even reduce its speed before striking a Chevrolet Impala, killing the four children and severely injuring their father. The 34-year-old father was placed in a medically induced coma and suffered severe burns in the crash. The children were identified as ages fifteen, thirteen, eight, and six. Investigators found that the trucker had multiple drugs in his system when he killed the four children. 

In 2019, large truck crashes killed 4,937 people.

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Sources:

https://www.pal-item.com/story/news/crime/2020/07/18/barnets-inc-rated-satisfactory-safety-corey-robert-withrow-fatal-tractor-trailer-truck-crash/5454251002/