Trucking company to pay $44.1 million to family of man killed in 133 vehicle pileup in Texas, attorney says

A jury awarded tens of millions of dollars to the family of a man killed in a massive pileup crash on I-35 in Texas in 2021.

On December 12, 2025, a Dallas County, Texas, jury awarded $44.1 million to the family of Christopher Ray Vardy, 49.

The $44.1 million verdict against Missouri-based trucking company New Prime includes $24.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages due to “gross negligence,” according to a news release from attorney Frank L. Branson, who represented Vardy’s family.

Vardy lost his life in a pileup crash that occurred on I-35W in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 11, 2021, during a winter weather ice storm.

The pileup involved 133 passenger and commercial vehicles on an elevated section of the southbound toll lanes. Six people, including Vardy, were killed and 36 others were hospitalized with injuries.

From the news release announcing the $44.1 million award:

“Evidence presented during the trial showed that trucking operator New Prime Inc.’s driver, Steven Ridder, did not receive adequate winter weather driving training and failed to exercise extreme caution in hazardous weather. The 18-wheeler owned by New Prime and driven by Mr. Ridder rear-ended Mr. Vardy’s vehicle, which was stopped because of other crashes in front of him. Cranes and heavy machinery were required to find and then extricate Mr. Vardy and his truck that were buried amidst crash debris and injured victims. The jury agreed with attorneys representing Mr. Vardy’s family that the big rig was being driven at an excessive speed, given the weather conditions.“

“Trucking companies have the obligation to make sure their big rigs are being operated safely, which means taking extra precautions during extreme weather conditions, given the enormous size and weight of these vehicles,” said Branson. “The attention paid by this jury to the evidence during trial and deliberations and their resulting verdict gives the Vardy family a measure of comfort and sense of justice in their tragic loss.”

A 2023 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report found that the company responsible for de-icing the interstate where the pileup occurred failed to properly monitor and respond to the road conditions following 36 consecutive hours of below-freezing temperatures. The report also faulted drivers for going too fast for conditions.