Woman killed by pumpkin truck

A 66-year-old woman in Tennessee was killed after she was involved in a trucking accident on Oct. 8. The incident reportedly occurred around 3:30 a.m. in Donelson. According to local reports, a 34-year-old male driver for Iceline Logistics crashed a semi-trailer into her home. The driver was reportedly hauling 40,000 pounds of pumpkins from Virginia to Mt. Juliet.

The impact of the truck crashing halfway through the home totaled the residence. The victim’s husband and son were also inside the home when the collision occurred, but they did not suffer any injuries. At the time of the report, the truck driver was not issued any criminal charges or citations for his involvement in the wreck.

The driver submitted a blood sample but showed no signs of impairment. He claims that the trailer began wobbling prior to the incident, causing him to lose control and drive through several yards before crashing into the home. However, Metro Police stated that there were no indications of load shifting, trailer wobbling, brake marks or other related signs at the scene. Officials also stated that there are no signs or regulations prohibiting trucks from traveling in the area where the incident occurred.

When people are killed in similar truck accidents, the victims’ surviving family members may benefit from filing a wrongful death claim against the driver as well as his or her employer. A successful claim may allow family members to recover compensation to help account for medical expenses, loss of income and other economic and non-economic hardships related to the incident. In order to collect restitution, lawyers typically need to prove that the truck driver’s or employer’s negligence caused the injuries and resulting death.

Source: WRCBtv.com, “Woman killed after semi carrying pumpkins crashes into home”, Kara Apel and Larry Flowers, October 08, 2014