Litigation

18 Wheeler Wreaks Havoc in North Texas

By Angel L. Reyes, III

Another hot summer day and another tragedy on Texas highways. Today's Dallas Morning News reports that an 18 wheeler driven by James Crayton of Dallas, apparently never slowed and rear-ended Anthony and Kimberly Brandon's vehicle, causing it to explode on impact, killing them both. The 18 wheeler then slammed into another car, causing it to ram the car driven by Darryl Hoosier of Lafayette, LA, killing him.
 
Just 30 days ago, over the July 4th holiday, two others were killed on the same stretch of highway. This stretch is where a bridge is undergoing maintenance by KKM Construction of Texarkana, AK. KKM was awarded over $200,000 by the Texas Department of Transportation and is far behind on the project.

In an update to the June 26, 2009 tractor-trailer wreck on the Will Rogers Turnpike in Oklahoma, a report by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol concluded that the 76-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer, Donald Creed of Willard, MO, failed to brake at all before he rear-ended a line of cars that were stopped because of an earlier crash. Further, the report suggests that the tractor-trailer had its cruise control on during impact. That tragic crash killed Shelby Hayes, her husband, Randall Hayes, their son, Ethan Hayes, and Shelby Hayes' mother, Cynthia Olson. Three generations lost their lives because of an inattentive 18 wheeler driver.
 
The full stories are below:

Report blames trucker for Oklahoma crash that killed 10, including Frisco family
07:30 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY - The inattention of a tractor-trailer driver led to a wreck on the Will Rogers Turnpike that killed 10 people June 26, including a Frisco family, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said in a report released Monday.

The inquiry showed no attempt by 76-year-old Donald L. Creed of Willard, Mo., to brake or take evasive action, no apparent problems with his brakes or steering and "strong evidence" that cruise control was in use, set at about 70 mph.

Authorities have said Creed's rig slammed into a line of cars that were stopped because of an earlier crash.

The OHP report said that when investigators tried to determine what Creed's physical condition had been before the collision, he declined to be interviewed "upon the advice of his attorney."

OHP Capt. Chris West said the report and other materials would be given to Ottawa County District Attorney Eddie Wyant, who will decide whether any charges should be filed.

Among those killed in the crash were Shelby Hayes, 35, her husband, Randall Hayes, 38, their son, Ethan Hayes, 7, and Shelby Hayes' mother, Cynthia Olson, 55.

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Three dead when truck plows into traffic in Cooke County
04:18 PM CDT on Monday, August 3, 2009
WFAA-TV

COOKE COUNTY - At least three people were killed Monday when an 18-wheeler plowed into four other vehicles in a construction zone on Interstate 35.

A spokesman for the Cooke County Sheriff's Department said the incident was reported shortly before noon at FM 1306 south of Gainesville.

Officials said the driver of a semi-trailer - identified as 59-year-old James Crayton of Dallas - apparently failed to slow down for other vehicles in a construction zone.

Crayton's big rig first crashed into a 2003 Chevrolet sedan. The car caught fire and the two people who were inside both died. Their names were not released.

The truck then struck a blue Honda Accord with two Yalaha, Florida residents inside. The driver, Carol Whaley, 63, was taken by air ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment. He was reported in critical condition. Passenger Linda Whaley, 61, was taken to a hospital in Greenville.

The driver of a third car hit by Crayton's truck, a black Nissan sedan, was also killed in the impact. Officials withheld the victim's identity.

The runaway truck finally stopped after hitting another 18-wheeler driven by Charles Haney of Nocona. He suffered minor injuries.

All northbound lanes of I-35 remained closed at midafternoon. Traffic was backed up for 12 miles as investigators pieced together what happened and cleared the wreckage.

©2009 Angel Reyes
www.ReyesLaw.com

Full post as published by Angel Reyes Blog on August 04, 2009 (boomark / email).