Kentucky trucking company’s driver causes deadly accident

There are federal regulations in place to prevent truckers from causing traffic incidents. For example, companies should make sure that drivers are qualified to operate tractor-trailers safely and that the vehicles have been properly maintained. An irresponsible company or driver can cause serious and even fatal accidents, as one recent incident reminds us.

Since 2013, trucking company Cool Runnings Express Inc., based in London, Kentucky, has had three instances in which safety officials had to take trucks off the road due to problems with the brakes. Over the course of the last 24 months, the company has failed 37 percent of eight vehicle inspections in contrast to the 21 percent national average. Further, the company failed 14 percent of its 14 driver inspections, compared to the national average of 6 percent.

In a recent incident in Florida, the company’s driver attempted to pass a truck and sideswiped it. Law enforcement cited him for careless driving. Following the accident, the truck driver stopped to get the vehicle repaired and then traveled roughly 400 miles. While in Chattanooga, the driver allegedly caused a multi-vehicle accident that killed six people. Officials are going to gather crash data recorders to determine how the incident occurred. Nine vehicles were involved in the accident, and recorders from two of those vehicles are not usable.

The truck driver has not been charged with any crimes. However, he is not allowed to operate a truck until the investigation is closed. People who experience a trucking accident should consult an attorney to determine if there are grounds for pursuing legal damages.

Source: Times Free Press, “Truck driver cited for careless driving one day before fatal I-75 crash,” Shelly Bradbury, June 30, 2015