KY family sues truck company, driver involved in wreck that left 16-year-old dead
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- Family sues trucker and Hills Trucking, alleging negligence in fatal I‑75 crash.
- Lawsuit claims driver distracted, failed to brake and struck pickup at 66 mph.
- Plaintiffs allege cracked brake drum and prior sudden deceleration contributed.
A Madison County family is suing a truck company and the driver they claim is responsible for causing a fatal collision on Interstate 75 this summer, according to court documents.
The crash happened July 20 in the northbound lanes of I-75 near mile marker 83 in Madison County. Kentucky State Police previously said a tractor-trailer rear-ended a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, and Tristan Brown, a 16-year-old sophomore at Madison Southern High School, died in the collision.
A lawsuit filed by Tristan’s family Nov. 12 claims the trucking company and a driver involved in the crash acted negligently and recklessly, causing wrongful death. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation for the damages and a jury trial.
“At only 16 years old, Tristan’s life was needlessly taken by the actions of a dangerous trucking company and its reckless employee driver,” Jon Hollan, the attorney representing Tristan’s family, said in a statement. “My clients’ courageous choice to file this lawsuit centers on demanding accountability and providing public awareness for what happened to their son.”
Family describes violent and reckless nature of the crash
David Turner, a Harlan resident, was behind the wheel of the tractor-trailer when he “recklessly and viciously” rear-ended the pickup truck, driven by Tristan’s father, the lawsuit alleges. Turner hit the pickup truck while traveling 66 mph.
The collision caused the pickup truck to “violently spin out of control” and hit another tractor-trailer, the lawsuit says. Tristan was ejected from the vehicle.
Tristan’s younger sister was also in the vehicle, according to the lawsuit. All three occupants were severely injured and taken to a hospital, where Tristan later died.
The injuries have “forever changed their lives for the worse,” the lawsuit says of the family.
At the time of the collision, the interstate was congested due to ongoing roadwork, and there were multiple signals and warnings of potential traffic hazards in the construction work zone. The lawsuit alleges Turner failed to pay proper attention to the road and did not use the brakes in the 30 seconds leading up to the crash.
Further, the lawsuit alleges Turner was “visually, physically, and/or cognitively distracted” before the collision. He was cited for inattentive or distracted driving, but has not been criminally charged in connection to the collision, according to court records.
“This tragic case illustrates the dangers of distracted driving and the devastation it can cause,” Hollan said in the statement. “At this time, the Kentucky State Police continue to diligently investigate the crash and my clients continue to trust the process of KSP’s investigative work.”
About 80 minutes before the crash, the black box recorder in Turner’s tractor-trailer recorded a separate, sudden deceleration event, which is caused by slamming on the brakes, according to the lawsuit.
The truck Turner was driving is owned by Hills Trucking Company, a commercial trucking operation based in Galax, Va. The company is also named a defendant in the lawsuit.
n a call to the Hills on the pending litigation, an employee declined immediate comment, and Turner could not be reached for comment.
The lawsuit claims the tractor-trailer had a cracked brake drum before the crash, which would have rendered it out of service under state and federal regulations. The cracked brake drum could have affected Turner’s ability to stop and control the vehicle, the suit continues.
“It is our hope that the spotlight upon the ongoing litigation and Tristan’s memory will drive safer practices for trucking companies and their drivers across Kentucky and beyond, as no family should endure such preventable devastation,” Hollan said in the statement.
Tristan was born in Richmond and enjoyed football, photography, video games, fishing and shoes, according to his obituary. He was also a member of Life Church in Richmond.
“My clients continue to be thankful for the ongoing love and support of their community as they have continued to physically recover and navigate life without Tristan,” Hollan said in the statement. “While Tristan’s time on this earth was cut short, his memory will remain forever and the family will continue to honor his legacy through The Tristan Project by providing love, support and hope for children throughout their community.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM.
