On or about January 28, 2021, at approximately 6:00 a.m., defendant acting in the course and scope of his employment with Freightway Trucking LLC, was operating a 2015 yellow Freightliner Cascadia 125 traveling westbound on State Highway 66. Defendant attempted to turn right into a private parking lot located at 6702 S.H. 66, near the intersection of S.H. 66 and ED Rutherford Road. Defendant initially stopped on the shoulder to allow traffic to pass before attempting the turn into the WestRock facility. In executing the maneuver, Defendant swung the tractor-trailer left and then right toward the entrance; however, the driveway was obstructed by parked vehicles, preventing completion of the turn. As a result, the trailer remained stopped across the westbound lane of S.H. 66.
Defendant was unable to back up and reposition due to the volume of oncoming traffic. Several vehicles approached from both directions and were able to maneuver around the stopped trailer. Our client was traveling westbound from the east in a 2019 blue Nissan Sentra, collided with the trailer, striking it from the front area toward the back left portion. According to the police report, it was suspected that plaintiff’s windshield may have been iced over, potentially limiting visibility.
My client was pronounced deceased at the scene.
