A truck driver who fatally struck an Illinois State Police officer on November 26, 2012, has been ordered by the FMCSA to cease driving immediately for failing to disclose a disqualifying medical condition during his DOT physical.
On the morning of November 26, Illinois-based DOT Transport driver Johnny Felton Jr. was traveling northbound on Interstate 55 near Litchfiled, Illinois, when he struck Illinois State Police Officer Kyle Deatherage, a motorcycle officer who had pulled off the road and was speaking with the motorist he had pulled over.
According to a statement released by the FMCSA, Felton told officers he had lost consciousness just before the accident.
At the scene, authorities searched Felton’s truck and found prescription medications with Felton’s name on them. Felton told the officers he had a specific medical condition that required he take the prescribed medications.
FMCSA investigators found that Felton had failed to disclose his medical condition and medications during his DOT physical.
According to the FMCSA statement, “FMCSA immediately placed Felton out of service after agency investigators found serious safety concerns surrounding his medical condition and qualifications under his commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by the State of Georgia. Investigators discovered that Felton failed to disclose to a medical examiner his disqualifying medical conditions, including his medications prescribed in treating those conditions,”
Information regarding Felton’s medical condition and medications is not being disclosed.
“This case sends a clear message that we will use every tool at our disposal to identify and remove from our roads unsafe operators,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Our agency is committed to raising the bar for commercial vehicle and driver safety.”