Truck Driver Inattention Causes Crash That Kills Six

An inattentive truck driver who didn’t see signs warning of a construction project slammed into a line of cars in upstate New York, causing a massive collision that killed six people, New York state police said. No charges have been filed against the driver, James Mills Jr., but the Jefferson County (NY) district attorney’s office is investigating the matter.

Among the victims were an elementary school speech therapist and her two teenage daughters, as well as her 69-year-old mother-in-law.

According to a report in the Plattsburg, NY, Press-Republican, Mr. Mills’ 18-wheeler was headed south on a slightly downhill stretch of highway when he slammed into an SUV, setting off a chain reaction. According to the report, his cellphone showed no texts or calls immediately before the accident. 

An investigator told reporters that the construction project was visible and that the signage was sufficient to alert drivers.

According to the news report: 

The tractor-trailer is owned by MBM Customized Foodservice Distribution, based in Rocky Mount, N.C. A spokesman for the company didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.

Trucks operated by the company have been involved in 75 accidents over the past two years, including one crash that killed one person and 23 crashes that resulted in at least one injury, according to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

When people suffer catastrophic injuries and wrongful death in trucking accidents, the lawyers at The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson work hard to identify the responsible parties and hold them accountable. The Law Offices of Frank Branson is not involved in this case.

Whether the cause is driver fatigue, improper truck maintenance, and/or improper screening, training and supervision of drivers, the Dallas truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have the experience, resources and technical abilities to determine what happened and who should be held responsible.