A tractor trailer crash that killed six people in Tennessee in June 2015 happened because a tired and distracted Kentucky truck driver had consumed methamphetamine and did not slow down in a contruction zone, according to the NTSB in early October 2016. 

According to NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart, the truck driver was most likely driving for 40 hours without substantial rest when he was working for Cool Runnings Express based out of London, Kentucky.

The report found that the truck driver did not slow when it entered a marked construction zone; the truck’s speed was at least 78 MPH. Seven vehicles total were involved, six died and four were hurt. The crash happened at 7 PM on June 25, 2015.

The truck driver also did not take any type of evasive action or slow his truck before the initial impact.

The NTSB investigation revealed that the trucking company failed to find out during his hiring that he had been fired from another trucking job in 2013 due to illegal drug use.

He has been charged with six counts of vehicular homicide and is being held on $500,000 bond in Kentucky.

Our View

All of our Virginia truck accident attorneys are saddened that this terrible big rig accident took six lives and devastated many others. There is absolutely no excuse on earth for a truck driver to be driving for 40 hours without major rest, or of course, taking drugs behind the wheel.

More than 500,000 commercial truck accidents happen annually, and far too many are due to fatigued drivers. A small but growing portion of them are caused by drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

We also condemn the trucking company for failing to catch that the truck driver had previous drug offenses.

All of the families of the tragically killed victims would be wise to speak at no charge to a personal injury attorney who can offer them advice on filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Filing a civil suit will never replace lives, but the action can net families millions of dollars in some cases. Filing a wrongful death suit that costs the driver and company millions also serves as a potent warning to truckers to drive safely or pay a very heavy price.