$81M lawsuit filed against FedEx for death of motorist standing on shoulder

The family of a motorist killed in an accident with a semi truck has filed a $81M lawsuit against FedEx for the incident. 

The accident happened back on December 20th, 2022 at about 5 a.m. near Rooster Rock State Park in Oregon on Interstate 84. 

According to Oregon Live, 65-year-old Israel Gonzales Sanchez was stopped on the shoulder of I-84 helping another motorist in icy conditions when a semi truck leased to FedEx by True North Trucking Co. slid in the icy conditions and struck Sanchez as he stood on the shoulder. 

The suit alleges that the truck driver was traveling too fast for conditions and, and faults FedEx for allowing its drivers to operate in dark, wet, and cold conditions. 

“FedEx has long known of the extreme hazard for commercial truck driving during the ‘Danger Zone,’ between midnight and 6 a.m., during which time truck collisions involving death and serious bodily injury are seven times more likely to occur,” states the suit.

Both FedEx and True North are named in the suit. Neither have commented on the issue.