Trucker acquitted in I-70 crash that killed 4

Albright’s defense presented evidence during the two-day trial that the driver had a diabetic episode, “which basically put him in an altered state of consciousness” before the eight-vehicle pileup, Columbia attorney Mike Holder said.

The Trucker News Services

7/17/2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A Missouri jury on Wednesday acquitted a Tennessee truck driver in a 2006 crash that killed four family members.

The jury found George Albright Jr., 63, of Clarksville, Tenn., not guilty of four counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Beverly Garrett, 57, Beulah Hunter, 94, Elois Jeans, 81, and Anita Gibbs, 55, died in the June 1, 2006, crash. The family members were in the same car driving from Kansas City to a family celebration in Kankakee, Ill.

In April, survivors of three of the deceased settled a federal wrongful death lawsuit related to the fatal accident for $18 million. Gibbs’ husband, Roy Gibbs Jr. of Kansas City, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Boone County Circuit Court that is still pending.

Albright’s defense presented evidence during the two-day trial that the driver had a diabetic episode, “which basically put him in an altered state of consciousness” before the eight-vehicle pileup, Columbia attorney Mike Holder said.

The women’s car was stopped in eastbound traffic about 30 miles east of Columbia because of a wreck involving another semi. Albright’s tractor-trailer slammed into a line of cars, scattering them, then broke through median cables and crossed into the westbound lanes before jackknifing on an embankment, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The case was moved to Boone County on a change of venue.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Sterner said he did not want to criticize the jury.

“They heard the evidence, and they thought for some reason he wasn’t liable,” the prosecutor said.