Oldham County Jury Awards $38,978,670 in Multi-Vehicle Crash

On the night of November 22, 2013, an icy Interstate 40 in Oldham County, Texas, was the scene of a multi-vehicle crash involving several tractor-trailers, a van, and a car. A tractor-trailer driver, operating for a trucking company, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to block eastbound lanes. Subsequent collisions occurred when a van and a car struck the disabled truck after slowing. Another tractor-trailer then struck the van and car. The van was pushed into the driver of a second tractor-trailer, who had pulled over to the shoulder and exited his vehicle, resulting in his death. A van passenger also died at the scene, and another van passenger died nine days later from injuries. The van driver suffered a leg amputation, and other occupants sustained various injuries.

Families of the deceased and injured individuals initiated a lawsuit, primarily alleging negligence and gross negligence against the tractor-trailer driver who first lost control and her employer. Plaintiffs contended the driver was negligent for failing to control her vehicle, speeding, and failing to take emergency measures, while the employer was negligent in entrusting the vehicle and in training. The defendants denied negligence, attributing the incident to black ice and alleging comparative negligence by other drivers, including the van driver and the deceased tractor-trailer driver.

After a 12-day trial and four days of jury deliberation, a jury found the defendants liable. The jury assigned 55 percent of comparative responsibility to the initial tractor-trailer driver, 30 percent to her employer, and 15 percent to the driver of the third tractor-trailer involved. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $38,978,670. The initial tractor-trailer driver and her employer were held jointly and severally liable for 100 percent of the damages, with the driver's responsibility attributed to her employer. The jury did not address the claims of gross negligence.