Truck Driver Under Investigation In Connection With Deadly Interstate Pile-up
A truck driver involved in a massive crash that killed six people near Chattanooga is also under investigation for drug use and drug sale, according to a report in the Times Free Press.
Benjamin Scott Brewer, 39, is being investigated by Chattanooga, Tennessee, police after they say he drove his tractor-trailer into a number of cars on Interstate 75 last week. That pile-up killed six people.
This is not Brewer’s first run-in with the law. Recently, he was cited for careless driving in Florida — a day before the fatal crash in Chattanooga.
He is also wanted in Wisconsin, stemming from a 2013 drug charge. In that case, he posted bond and did not appear at his May 2013 court date.
In that case, Brewer was arrested in Janesville, Wisconsin, after attempting to fill a prescription he received in Florida for a 28-day supply of oxycodone. The pharmacist believed the prescription to be suspicious and alerted the authorities.
When authorities arrived, they found that Brewer had four prescription medications and no prescription to prove they were medically needed, the report states. He told the police that he had seen a doctor in Tennessee for back pain following a trucking accident. When that doctor unexpectedly closed up shop, he told police, he went to a doctor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to get a new prescription for the oxycodone.
The prescription that Brewer had on him at the time was gabapentin, which is used as an anti-seizure medication and is also used to help control pain. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told the Times Free Press that the drug is being increasingly used on the street as a recreational drug, however, there hasn’t been solid data to prove it beyond anecdotal evidence.
During the time of the search, police also found text messages on his phone that they allege are evidence he was also selling prescription drugs.
The charges he faces in Wisconsin include a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine or no more than six months in jail.
Police are still investigating the crash in Chattanooga, and Brewer has not been charged in connection with the fatal wreck. His blood is being tested for drugs and/or alcohol.
Have you lost a loved one to a negligent driver
If you’ve lost a loved one to a negligent driver, you may be eligible for compensation. If you’re considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit or a personal injury lawsuit, contact the lawyers at Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We have more than 40 years experience in the field and we have worked on numerous cases in which we have succeeded in getting our clients a favorable outcome.
If the driver involved was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or is found to have been negligent in some other way, you may be eligible for increased compensation — this penalty is known as punitive damages. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today for a consultation.
