The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an out-of-service order to an Ohio truck driver after he struck and killed two pedestrians on the shoulder of the roadway within a six month period.
On December 27, 2018, the FMCSA issued a federal out-of-service order to truck driver Doug A. Jones. The out-of-service order declares Jones to be an imminent hazard to public safety and forbids him to operate a truck interstate.
According to a news release from the FMCSA, “twice in the past six months, Jones has struck an individual while operating a tractor-trailer. In both instances, the individual was killed.”
The FMCSA says that the first incident occurred on July 2, 2018, on I-81 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, when Jones fatally struck a person who was standing outside of a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate.
Following the pedestrian strike, Jones was charged with:
- Careless driving causing death of another person
- Driving a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions
- Driving outside of a single lane before ascertaining if the movement can be made safely
- Failing to wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt system.
The second incident reportedly occurred on December 7, 2018, on Highway 33 in Union County, Ohio. During this incident, the FMCSA says that Jones crossed over the fog line of the highway and fatally struck a construction worker who was standing near a parked vehicle.
HAPPENING NOW: EB US 33 between 42 & 161 closed b/c of axxy just W of Post Rd. One person dead, beloved to be a pedestrian. Working on more details. pic.twitter.com/09jCYB3MEs
— Tom Bosco (@tomwsyx6) December 7, 2018
The FMCSA says that Jones did not stop after this collision.
This pedestrian strike is still under investigation by local law enforcement officials.