Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Tow Truck Company After Deadly Accident Claims One Life

The grieving family of a 65-year-old man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a tow truck company and its driver. The plaintiffs are alleging that distracted driving, negligence, following too closely, and speeding are all to blame for a fiery wreck that resulted in a fatality. The decedent died in a 12-vehicle crash on May 8 in Texas. The lawsuit names Sheffield Towing Service (also known as Fort Stockton Towing) and its 28-year-old driver.

The driver has not been charged with a crime. However, the wrongful death lawsuit alleges that he was speeding, failed to keep a safe following distance, and “was distracted through electronic device use and consciously disregarding the extreme risks of harm associated with doing so,” the lawsuit states.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, the company that employed the driver had “both a moral and legal obligation to develop, implement, and enforce safety measures, and this company absolutely failed to do so with the most horrifying outcome.

The crash 

Yet another rear-end collision. We’ve written extensively about truck accidents and rear-end collisions on our blog. Rear-end collisions remain the number one cause of truck accidents in the United States. This case is just another example of a truck driver not paying attention to what’s in front of them and causing a 12-vehicle accident, killing one, and injuring several others.

The crash occurred around 6:20 a.m., May 8, in El Paso, Texas. The decedent was a passenger in the tow truck driven by the defendant. They were on their way to tow a semi-truck and trailer that had broken down.

The defendant-driver, “for unknown reasons,” could not stop the tow truck as it approached an intersection. The tow truck crashed into several vehicles that were all waiting at a red light at the intersection. Ultimately, there were 12 vehicles involved in the pile-up. Seven individuals sustained injuries.

According to the lawsuit, the decedent “was killed in the ghastliest manner imaginable, being burned alive inside the cab of the truck,” the family’s attorney said in a press release. The plaintiffs allege that the defendant committed gross negligence. In addition, they say the defendant-driver:

• Failed to maintain a proper lookout
• Failed to drive a safe speed for the conditions
• Failed to control his speed
• Failed to keep a safe following distance
• Failed to apply the brakes in a safe manner
• Failed to yield the right-of-way
• Failed to operate the tow truck in a safe manner
• Was distracted through the use of electronic devices, consciously disregarding the extreme risks associated with doing so
• Failed to timely apply the brakes
• Failed to operate the vehicle as a safe driver for profit would under the same or similar conditions
• Violated the Texas Driver Handbook

Talk to an Oakland, CA, Truck Accident Lawyer Today 

The Oakland, CA, personal injury lawyers at Venardi Zurada represent the interests of truck accident victims in lawsuits filed against negligent trucking companies. We serve the Bay Area from our office locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Call our office today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help.

Source:

elpasotimes.com/story/news/2025/05/19/lawsuit-filed-by-family-of-man-aldo-jenkins-killed-in-fiery-transmountain-crash-sheffield-towing/83731842007/