Ohio Turnpike Crash: Truck Driver, Manufacturers and Toll Plaza Face Lawsuits

A fatal crash that occurred in August 2024 on the Ohio Turnpike has triggered several lawsuits in which different parties are seeking to determine who was responsible for the collision. The cases raise questions about the liability of carriers, truck manufacturers, infrastructure companies, and freight shippers.

The crash occurred when an SUV slowed down while approaching a toll plaza and was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer operated by CJJ Industries. The accident resulted in the deaths of an adult passenger and a minor.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation concluded that the SUV’s deceleration and lane change were the probable cause of the crash and determined that the truck driver did not have enough time to avoid or reduce the impact. The NTSB also noted that an automatic emergency braking system would not have been able to respond in time.

However, lawsuits filed afterward raise a broader question: whether the design of the toll plaza and other factors related to the truck and transportation operation also contributed to the crash.

Lawsuits Target Toll Plaza Design

One of the main arguments in the lawsuits focuses on the new toll collection system implemented on the Ohio Turnpike. The system combined high-speed electronic lanes for E-ZPass users with traditional lanes where drivers had to slow down significantly to make payments. The NTSB later recommended moving toward a fully electronic tolling system and eliminating low-speed toll lanes.

In one lawsuit, attorneys representing the victims partially blame companies involved in the design and construction of the toll plaza. Prime AE Group, which was responsible for the design, and Mosser Construction, which handled construction, face allegations of negligence related to conditions created by the toll plaza’s configuration.

The truck driver, Hashim Hall, also filed a lawsuit claiming that he was traveling legally when the SUV suddenly braked and changed lanes.

The NTSB recommended that the Federal Highway Administration update traffic-control standards and signage at toll facilities, as well as strengthen best practices to promote the safety benefits of fully electronic toll collection systems.

It also called for accelerating construction of a highway access point in Ohio to improve emergency response times and evaluating the need for additional access points. The board further recommended permanently closing low-speed toll lanes and informing toll operators about the safety benefits of eliminating them.

Manufacturers Also Face Allegations

The case also broadens the debate over commercial vehicle manufacturers’ liability, with Mack Trucks and Volvo among the defendants in claims involving collision mitigation systems. According to the lawsuit, the truck could be configured without certain safety technologies, and those systems were not installed on the vehicle used by CJJ Industries. Attorneys argue that manufacturers should have considered the risks associated with allowing these systems to be omitted.

M&K Quality Truck Sales, the dealership, was also named in the lawsuit based on negligence claims related to the selection and supply of the vehicle.

The case is relevant to carriers because it raises questions about how far liability can extend when a commercial vehicle complies with federal regulations but lacks certain safety technologies that can be purchased or installed as optional equipment.

Hazardous Cargo Adds Another Potential Claim

The crash also caused a spill of sulfonic acid being transported by the truck. An Ohio State Highway Patrol officer who responded to the scene filed a lawsuit alleging that several parties were responsible for the consequences of exposure to the cargo.

The lawsuit claims that the officer had to undergo decontamination, was transported to a hospital, and later experienced cardiac and respiratory problems. The NTSB report, meanwhile, stated that no injuries from chemical exposure were reported.

The difference between the two accounts could be relevant in determining the extent of the damages and the liability of the various parties.

A Case With Implications for Trucking Companies

Regardless of who is ultimately found legally responsible, the Ohio crash illustrates how a collision involving a commercial truck can generate claims against numerous participants in the transportation chain: the driver, carrier, shipper, manufacturer, dealership, and even companies responsible for designing and constructing roadway infrastructure.

For carriers and owner-operators, the case also highlights the importance of documenting vehicle maintenance, inspections, equipment selection, driver training, and hiring processes.

The lawsuits remain allegations and will have to be resolved in court. The NTSB investigation, meanwhile, attributed the probable cause of the crash primarily to the SUV’s maneuver and determined that the truck driver did not have enough time to avoid the collision.