A rundown of trucking-related arrests, convictions, and crime news from March 2018.
The truck’s driver was arrested for DUI and related charges. A passenger was also arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Source: Patch.com
After a police chase, the suspect was apprehended when he drove the truck off-road and struck a large rock and several trees.The suspect had been previously charged with stealing his grandmother’s car and leading police on another chase in 2010.
Source: Portland Herald Press
The second arrest was of a driver who was pulled over for “failing to maintain the lane of traffic.” The police officer said that when he approached the truck, “It literally looked like a white cloud of smoke coming out of the vehicle.” The suspect admitted: “Yeah, you’re right. You caught me.”
Source: WDRB.com
The Sheriff’s Office received several calls around 9 PM on March 8 of a strong gasoline odor coming from a pond. The suspect, a truck driver for Kent Oil Services, was charged with criminal trespassing, dumping of a controlled product, and criminal damage to property.
Kent Oil Services has said it will take responsibility for cleaning up the gasoline.
Source: WAFB.com
The truck driver was attempting to repo the suspect’s Nissan Murano.
The suspect fired several shots but didn’t hit the repo man. Regardless, he was charged with premeditated murder and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Source: Miami Herald
Jurors found Benjamin Brewer guilty of 6 counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, as well as driving under the influence and speeding.
The FMCSA had found that Brewer falsified logs in the days leading up to the crash.
According to the NTSB, Brewer’s truck struck the rear of a Toyota Prius at an estimated speed of 78 miles per hour and continued forward to hit seven other vehicles. Traffic had slowed because of road construction and a work zone lane closure.
Prosecutors say Brewer was high on meth at the time of the crash, but the defense says Brewer fell asleep behind the wheel.
Source: WRCB TV, Overdrive Magazine
Illinois State Police said the driver did not reduce speed enough when turning onto the ramp. His combination tractor-trailer/tanker-trailer rolled into its side.
Source: KHQA.com
When students of the trucking school had difficulty passing DMV examinations, the school owner offered to assist them in obtaining fraudulently-issued licenses.
The pair were charged with criminal conspiracy, six counts of unlawful production of an identification document, and six counts of unlawful transfer of an identification document.
Source: Bakersfield.com