Family suing driver and company for “complete and utter disregard” of HOS rules in fatal wreck

The family of a woman killed in a crash with a semi truck this summer has filed a lawsuit against the driver and the companies he worked for. 

The wreck that prompted the lawsuit occurred on July 14th in Silver Spring Township, Pennsylvania on Interstate 81. 

The lawsuit alleges that truck driver Zeresenay Melake lost control of his semi truck and veered across the median into oncoming traffic, hitting two cars and killing three people. The family of 80-year-old Eileen Beck, who was killed in the wreck, has named Melake, trucking company 4G Express, and broker Flock Freight Inc. in the civil suit, reported WGAL News.

The suit states that Melake drove 36 hours and seven minutes in a 72 hour period before the crash that killed Beck, and did not take his 10 during that time. At the time of the crash, the company was aware that Melake was operating over hours, or at least should have been aware, the suit states. Melake allegedly had a history of unsafe driving, but 4G Express and Flock Freight hired him anyway. 

“Ms. Beck, who was most commonly known as ‘Grammy’ to her family and friends, left behind a community mourning her tragic and senseless death at the hands of a reckless driver. Mr. Melake and the companies that he worked for allegedly showed complete and utter disregard for the regulations that they were expected to uphold, demonstrating no consideration for the safety of everyone else on the road. We will do everything we can do to bring some justice to Ms. Beck’s grieving family and hold all those responsible for this horrific incident.”

The suit is seeking a minimum of $150,000 in damages.