The trial of truck driver Benjamin Brewer will come to a close soon. Brewer’s trial has been pushed back several times, most recently from October 17 to January 22nd. A jury will be selected from Nashville on January 18th.
Brewer is charged with six counts of vehicular homicide for a crash on I-75 in 2015 that killed six people and injured four more. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the accident happened when Brewer failed to slow for traffic. He smashed into the backs of several vehicles, causing a chain-reaction crash.
Reportedly, Brewer had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system at the time of the crash. The investigation of the crash also revealed that he did not take the required rest breaks and was likely fatigued. His employer also failed to conduct a pre-employment hair drug test, which could have detected his pattern of drug use.
IS DRUG/ALCOHOL ABUSE COMMON AMONG TRUCK DRIVERS?
The job of a truck driver can be lonely and monotonous. Given the demands of the job (long hours, pay by the mile, or by the load), some drivers resort to drugs. A total of 36 studies between 2000 and 2013 found that the drugs of choice for truck drivers are alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana. These drugs are used to keep drivers unnaturally awake on the road and can have the side effects of increasing risky behaviors, like speeding or failure to respect road conditions.
Trucking is a highly regulated industry and companies are responsible for making sure that their drivers are not using drugs. When they fail to do so, deadly accidents like Benjamin Brewer’s can occur. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a drugged driver, our law firm can assist you in identifying all potential defendants to ensure that you receive the maximum recovery you deserve.
Psalm 136:26, “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”