BANGOR, Maine — A truck driver is expected to accept responsibility for causing the death of a state police detective who was struck by a dislodged tire as he was assisting a driver alongside Interstate 95.
Scott Willett, 55, of Patten, reached a plea agreement in which he’ll pay a fine and have his license suspended, the Bangor Daily News reported.
Detective Ben Campbell, 31, was fatally injured when a tire from Willett’s truck fell off and hit him on April 3, 2019. He was headed to a training event when he stopped to help a driver in a snowstorm in Hampden.
An investigation focused on the condition of the logging truck.
State police previously suspended the license of a mechanic, alleging that his inspection of the logging truck and trailer less than a month before the incident was inadequate.
As owner and operator, Willet is charged with causing the death of a person while committing a traffic infraction, along with several trucking violations and operation of a defective vehicle.
Willett is due in court on Aug. 19.
The detective’s funeral at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland represented the largest gathering of Maine state troopers in history, officials said. It drew 3,000 mourners including law enforcement officers from as far away as Canada and California.
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. The Trucker Media Group is subscriber of The Associated Press has been granted the license to use this content on TheTrucker.com and The Trucker newspaper in accordance with its Content License Agreement with The Associated Press.
Seem s like he’s getting the shaft on this.
What does he have to do for work now that his license is gone? How was this his fault that the tire fell off? I agree with you David that it sounds like he is getting the royal shaft.
As a professional driver he should have included the pretrial to make sure it was secured. I refuse several trailer based on the fact that the trailer tire rack was defective in securement. It took me 30 minutes to go get a chain and secure it
30 minutes time is worth a life.
Not enough factual information to make a decision on this, where did the tire come from and information like that.
In a land where we cannot sue gun makers for faulty products, toxic products remain on store shelves and drug companies can sell narcotics legally and lobby our lawmakers with their profits, a truck driver’s career is ended because his company was negligent.
That is reason # 1001 to leave the industry.
Faulty equipment is faulty equipment I’m not sure if it came off the trailer axle or in the spare but if it’s rolling down the road it will kill someone that’s why preventative maintenance is a must on big trucks on the road too many variables a well experienced driver will catch his defaults you must look at the tire wear is it takes training of your own and keep track
Hi they just think $ $$$ no pretrip.
I understand he is a owner of the truck and the operator however all of the punishments seem a bit harsh and unjust