Tragic Accident Claims Life of Young EMT
On September 20, 2021, Sarah Susman, 25, was en route to work on Highway 126 W from her home in Springfield when a log truck driven by Shane McVay, 67, overturned, spilling its load. The logs collided with Susman’s vehicle and several others on the road.
Susman, who was a part-time emergency medical technician with Western Lane Fire and EMS and had plans to attend medical school, tragically succumbed to her injuries.
“Sarah was an exceptional 25-year-old young woman,” stated Tom D’Amore, the attorney representing the Susman family. “She was an EMT, graduated at the top of her class from the University of Oregon, and had just completed the MCAT as she aspired to enter medical school. She embodied everything one would hope for in a daughter.”
Investigation Reveals Negligence
Oregon State Police’s investigation revealed that McVay was under the influence during the accident. Further findings indicated he was speeding, his truck was carrying a load that exceeded the limit by 1,300 pounds, and the front brakes of the vehicle were nonfunctional.
In 2022, McVay was convicted in Lane County of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence, and two counts of reckless endangerment, receiving a 10-year prison sentence.
Lawsuit Against Logging and Trucking Companies
Susman’s family has initiated legal action against Oregon logging and trucking companies to highlight how a hazardous industry practice, termed “double brokering,” played a role in her demise. A trial regarding a $65 million wrongful death lawsuit commenced at the Lane County Courthouse on June 10 and is projected to last three weeks.
The 2023 civil complaint filed in Lane County Circuit Court defines double brokering as a procedure in which hauling jobs are transferred among various contractors with little oversight. Frequently, the shipper remains unaware of the actual company transporting their goods.
Allegations of Safety Violations
In this incident, Starker Forests hired R&T Logging of Oregon for the transportation of felled trees. R&T Logging subsequently subcontracted Wolf Creek Timber Services for the job without adequately assessing their safety and efficiency standards, as claimed in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit contends that these companies willfully ignored safety protocols and failed to ensure the usage of qualified operators and reliable equipment in their logging activities. “Steps must be taken to guarantee that those you engage are safe,” D’Amore remarked. “It was evident that Wolf Creek was among the least competent in the industry, including the driver.”
Call for Change in the Industry
D’Amore emphasized that the Susman family hopes this incident serves as a wake-up call for the trucking industry to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Trucking business practice of double brokering on trial in Oregon.
