Crash Victim Wins $30 Million Suit

A Michigan trucking company was ordered by a jury to pay almost $30 million to a woman severely injured in a crash that killed three people near a presidential motorcade.

Mary Curry suffered second-degree burns and back injuries and a passenger in her car was killed in 1994 when her Jeep Cherokee was rammed on Interstate 75 outside Flint by a Pontiac Commercial Carriers’ truck hauling a load of Saturn automobiles.

Pontiac Commercial Carriers attorney Donald Rockwell said he was "absolutely" surprised by the size of the award, the largest ever given by a Michigan jury to a single person.

"Given the facts of this case, I certainly think it’s way out of line," Rockwell said.

He called an appeal likely if rulings on motions still pending before Judge Geoffrey Neithercut

re unfavorable to the company.

Curry was stopped in traffic that was backed up to allow President Clinton’s motorcade to pass on Nov. 7, 1994. Truck driver Daniel Westerby was cruising at posted speeds that afternoon and noticed the backup too late to avoid a crash.

For the full story, see the March 22 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.