In June 2015, at least one tractor-trailer was involved in an eight-vehicle crash in a construction zone on a Tennessee highway. Six people lost their lives and 18 others suffered a variety of injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken into custody on charges that include six counts of vehicular homicide.
The trucker was also accused of driving under the influence of drugs and speeding at the time of the crash. Reports from law enforcement officials who investigated the crash indicated that the truck driver used methamphetamine prior to getting behind the wheel of the big rig. In 2015, he was indicted by a grand jury based on the evidence presented by prosecutors involved in the case.
However, law enforcement officials were not the only ones investigating the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released details of its report. NTSB investigators noted that the truck was traveling at approximately 78 mph when it entered the construction zone that had a posted speed limit of 55 mph. They also found that the truck driver did not have adequate, sustained rest for approximately 40 hours by the time the crash occurred.
The truck driver's criminal defense team will review the evidence Tennessee prosecutors intend to present in court, which may include the report of the NTSB. As would be the case for any driver accused of vehicular homicide, the weight of the evidence might indicate whether going to trial would be in the best interests of the accused individual. Depending on what that review reveals, all of the options available will be considered, and the course of action that could lead to the best possible resolution of the charges will be pursued.
Source: yahoo.com, "Driver fatigue, meth to blame in deadly 2015 Tennessee crash: safety panel", David Shepardson, Oct. 4, 2016