Semi-Truck Driver Charged with Reckless Homicide Following Fatal Crash
in Wayne County, Indiana

All drivers can cause life-altering accidents when they break the law –
but when truck drivers fail to observe our traffic laws and regulations,
the results can be particularly catastrophic. In one tragic recent example,
an allegedly intoxicated semi-truck driver traveling on eastbound I-70
in Wayne County caused a
multi-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of four children.

According to news reports, 31-year-old Corey R. Withrow was “erratically”
driving a Kenworth semi-truck at high speeds in the minutes leading up
to the crash, failing to slow for a construction zone on the I-70 freeway.
After rear-ending a passenger car, Withrow’s truck pushed it into
another semi-truck before both vehicles veered off the road and burst
into flames.

As a direct result of this horrific crash, four young occupants of the
passenger car – ranging between the ages of 6 and 15 – lost
their lives. While the driver of the second semi-truck was unharmed, the
driver of the passenger car was critically injured and had to be transported
to an Indianapolis hospital by medical helicopter.

According to toxicology reports released by the Wayne County Sherriff’s
Office, Mr. Withrow was allegedly intoxicated with multiple drugs at the
time of the collision. He has been charged with four counts of reckless
homicide and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing death,
as well as one count of operating while intoxicated and causing injury.

How Can Families Hold Trucking Companies and Drivers Accountable?

At Wagner Reese, our hearts go out to the parents and surviving family
members of the children who died in this senseless crash, as well as the
injured car driver. As truck accident attorneys who have long served the
Indianapolis area, we often see cases involving gross negligence and recklessness
like this one – and although we are glad that prosecutors have chosen
to pursue criminal charges against Mr. Withrow, we also know from experience
that criminal proceedings alone do not always offer full justice for surviving
family members.

Bringing a civil lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence can help affected
loved ones find some measure of peace in the wake of devastating losses.
Because trucking companies are often responsible for pushing drivers to
meet unreasonable deadlines and skirt federal trucking regulations, the
families in this matter may have grounds to sue the larger company as
well as the negligent driver. By representing crash victims and their
family members in truck accident lawsuits, our team strives to help each
client recover fair compensation and some degree of restitution.

If you need to speak with an attorney about this incident or a similar
claim, we encourage you to contact our team at Wagner Reese and explore
your legal options. Call (888) 204-8440 today or submit our online form.