A trucker was found to be not at fault for a fatal crash which took the life of two young children during a winter storm. Despite that, the parents of the children are suing the driver and his company for $10 million.
Michael Soyring is a driver for Pan-O-Gold Baking Company. He was driving on I-29 in North Dakota during a snowstorm in March of 2018. An SUV driven by Trista Curry slid on the road and spun in front of Soyring’s truck. Though he turned to try and avoid the vehicle, Soyring’s truck still struck the passenger-side of the SUV. In the crash, Curry and her 3-year-old daughter were seriously injured and Curry’s 1-year-old and 9-year-old sons lost their lives.
No evidence was found putting blame for the crash on Soyring – and not for lack of trying. A five-month investigation found that Soyring was not distracted at the time of the crash, was not speeding, and was not in violation of any safety regulations. Even his truck was in good condition.
In fact, the only issue of concern that was noted in the report was that the back tires on Curry’s SUV were noted as “borderline for winter use.”
Still, Curry and her husband have filed a lawsuit against Soyring and Pan-O-Gold seeking $10 million, alleging negligence. They claim that the company knew or should have known about the dangerous bad weather, and that Soyring was driving too fast given the weather conditions and shouldn’t have been following the traffic in front of him so closely.
Source: freightwaves
larry says
I wish the driver would sue the SUV driver for driving to fast. She is the one who lost control.
Cliff says
Yep. Counter suit.
Alex K says
Absolutely.
Kev says
Exactly I’m sorry for there lost
Jeff Pearson says
It is time that these flagrant lawsuits are stopped.. counter sue and have the attorney as the defendant..its all about money..and when these ambulance chasers finally realize thst it may cost them big money..then they will only take legitimate law suits..
Rawdog says
I agree Jeff but the problem is , the trucking companies insurance company will probably settle because it’s cheaper than fighting them
Ron Wood says
Been the had that done to me also. The trucking company would rather let the insurance pay up, rather then help defend me in court. Any the trucking company had the evidence that showed the accident wasn’t my fault. The lawyers didn’t care either, they still got paid for doing nothing. The court system, and the whole system is just “for show”. The courts don’t care about Equal Justice.
Cliff says
When we change to a loser pays system, then these suits will become fewer.
Jack says
USA needs LOSER PAYS ALL COSTS, laws. That would thin out these BS lawsuits!
ez says
lmao then these company’s with deep pockets would get away with murder., think before you leap.
Rawdog says
If it was that bad maybe the C(an’t) U(ndertsand) N(ormal) T(hinking) should have stayed home and not been there to wreck in front of the driver who was doing nothing wrong, she’s trying to cash in on the lives of her children even though she was the one who killed them !! What’s sad is the insurance company will probably settle just on a fiscal issue (cheaper to pay em than fight em) when in reality she should have been charged with endangering the lives of her children or manslaughter since it was HER actions that killed those kids ! Kids are probably better off if that’s the type of people they had for parents
Mark says
Woah, pretty harsh dude.😯
Ryan says
I mean his name is “rawdog” lol what did you expect? But I totally agree with what he said.
Beth says
You know she should have at least got fined for bad tires. Doesn’t ND have any chain laws about bad weather like the other states. Not for the truck drivers but the 4 wheeler
Nick says
Amen! Well said!
Nick says
Amen rawdog! Well said!
Ron Wood says
Well said! Raw Dog. And I’ll bet the news was telling everyone “to stay off the road unless necessary.” I’ll bet she didn’t heed that warning !
William Finney says
When U start your comments with the”can’t understand” thing it is difficult to take U seriously.
And it’s a pretty harsh comment to make towards someone who lost 2 children . And no, I don’t think the truck driver or company shud be held liable
Chopper Dave says
Hard to take someone seriously who cannot spell and uses u instead of you there Bill.
Outlaw ways says
Raw dawg well said my brother. Might be harsh for some but it had to be said
Steven says
Always in case of a bad accident a trucker life or freedom is at risk.
Always blamed financially and always at risk of loosing everything including own family.
Probably he will get sued once more in civil court and his belongings will be sold at action.
I don’t think this job it worth to consider.
James C says
If the trucker knew the roads were slick, then she did, too.
Umm, what is she suing for again?
dave bean says
for losing two kids. unable to accept responsibility, she is the one who lost control. you can’t possibly be expected to avoid an out of control vehicle
Douglas Kirk says
If she was in front of him then she was also going too fast
Chuck says
Was harrased, personally ran into and the driver drove away…all on video. Driver issue several citations, but no arrested for leaving scene. Later, all his citations dismissed…he and Allstate sued me and company for damage to his van and hospital bill. We lost, except for his hospital bill. Seems him driving on a flattening tire and damaging the van worse, was my fault after attempting to run me off the road, into the median and crashing into me. His “feared for his life”, after running into the trucker and driving away, made sense…in southern Indiana. Guess it didnt help me being Black…I didnt know I scared people enough to run into to me and drive off.
charles says
so discussed with this… same thing happened to a driver in newtown.. but since he was out of hours and forced to take a load the victims family is suing for damages and its a big deal… yes the lawsuit has the broker frac company the trucking company and dispatchers involved…. ch robinson says no matter what they go to court and lose.. so they write the checks…. hope the courts favor the driver in this case… and company.. and can counter sue… .. she was in the wrong.. feel sorry for their loss and condolences to the family.. seems they are lashing out at the driver for being there but if he wasn’t and she mite not be here to tell the story….
Mike says
Nobody is forced to take a load.
Robert E Rosser says
All CDL drivers have stop work authority, so if his company goes to fire him/her for refusing a load, unsafe equipment, being sick, poor weather conditions, etc., the drive has recourse, i.e. can sue for any actions taken against them for refusing to drive.
Jack says
FORCED TO TAKE THE LOAD? How does that work? They send a Gumba to your home with a gun to make you drive? Tell all dispatch to piss off, til you are legal. Too many spineless drivers, companies everywhere looking for drivers, screw that company,and go elsewhere.
Wayne Swicegood says
These lawsuits are driving up the costs of insurance for small guys like me that even if you have impeccable safety records you cannot afford the insurance anymore. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m afraid it’s going to be too late for most of us that are small business owners.
Bernie says
They are going to try ,same as you and me.
But the problem i see and have with this lawsuit is its another blemish on the Driving industry Sad,,
Bernie says
You cant put a price on our childrens heads but 10.000.000.000.
Eugene says
Best way is to trucker hi need dash camera front and rith side with GPS .
Recomend for company install 5 round camera .. On back trejler to
Vantrue N2 Pro Dual Dash Cam Night Vision 1080P FRONT + 1080p back (with GPS)
Tim says
This is one reason i left this industry after 35yrs. To much intrusion by big brother and to many stupid drivers. Been out for 2yrs now, my health is way better life is better all around. Plus wife loves me being home.
Tom watson says
My condolences to the family. Sueing the trucking company is expected. I hope you people get zip. The driver apparently made all efforts possible to avoid the accident. But since a truck was involved, let’s take them to court, sue them into bankruptcy and live life as if nothing happened.
wifi says
I agree. and i dont see the point in the insurance company just paying them to avoid court costs. that sends the message to me as a truck driver that all my efforts to do the right thing means nothing- they will pay the 4wheeler anyway.
Josh says
That’s what you get when companies put the accountants and lawyers in charge.
It comes down to a cost-benefit comparison that doesn’t even think long term.
If it’s cheaper to just settle than go to court, then you end up spending more money over time showing people that for a little pain, your company is a cash cow.
If companies spent the money upfront to go to court on a solid case and crush the ambulance chasers, they’d show that trucking isn’t the easy target it has been.
Jay says
I guess it’s true after all… no good deed goes unpunished!
Joey says
I hope this is a made up story,ridiculous…..
Ken says
That’s BS as far as I’m concerned, I’m sorry the children were killed but the attorneys say it was too bad for the truck to be out there what about her, she shouldn’t have been out there either, the driver was doing his job, she was probably just going to Walmart, besides the accident was her fault, not the drivers, I’m glad I left the industry, damned if you do damned if you don’t.
Red says
So I can go out and roll my truck over around a sharp curve because I was going wayyy too fast… and then turn around & sue the state or feds for building that curve in the road that caused me to wreck when speeding? Is everyone retarded now? Or what?
Daniel says
I get enraged over these lawsuits claiming the driver shouldn’t be driving in poor weather conditions.
It’s our job to be driving regardless of the weather.
If the weather is too bad, YOU should have not been driving around with your kids and YOU are at fault for the deaths of your children. You deserve NOTHING from the driving, company, insurance, etc.
Stop blaming someone innocent for the deaths YOU caused.
Me says
“Bad snow storm” why was she on the road, putting the lives of her family at risk? With bad tires? = Negligent
Bee donner says
These money grubbing gold diggers need to be permanently sterilized so they can’t produce more children. What haters they must be. Trying to make money off their children’s death. Why isn’t the mother in jail? Her actions killed her children.
Deputy Dawg 2020 says
Umm, dumb thought here but if Soyring was driving too fast why wasnt he issued a citation, Mr. Lawyer? Also, why was she out driving with her kids in that kind of weather? Is she a prof driver?
Deputy Dawg 2020 says
Instead of putting everybody’s lives in grave danger, almost all of your family, maybe you should have been enjoying a slay ride or build a snowman? U r not an expert driver, period.
Deputy Dawg 2020 says
Now this driver has to live with your poor decisions to drive and risk everything for the rest of his life. Hope you get counter sued for your own negligence….everbody loses because of you..
Sara says
They didn’t waste anytime putting a price tag out on their children. How was their insurance and driving record? And how can a four wheeler decide the driver was speeding while they spun around in circles endangering their children and other motorist. This Sue a trucker Sue his company has gone way too far out of hand. It’s like a trendy thing to do. Already trucking companies are going under. People are due happy. Sounds like the four wheeler hit the breaks.
Luke Warm says
The greedy lawyers that bring these suits should have to pay. They know most trucking companies will settle to avoid litigation, an act that needs to stop. I agree with the above comments, counter sue.