Arkansas trucking firm sued for second fatal Nashville crash in two years

By Jim Greene

Published on October 26, 2005

The federal suit for an unspecified amount filed by the family of Jason Powell accuses big rig driver Dan Plant and Continental Express, Inc., of negligence in Powell's death on Sept. 12, caused when the truck Plant was driving struck an armored car in which Powell was the rear guard.

Plaintiffs' attorney Mary Parker said Powell was ejected and pinned under the rear wheels of the Continental truck for 30 minutes, fully conscious. He died later the same day.

Police cited Plant, who was not injured, for not keeping a log book of his time behind the wheel and for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Continental and driver James Fitzgerald were sued last year over a crash that killed Nashville police officer Christy Dedman and critically injured James Underwood.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, over the past two years, Continental trucks have been involved in 83 crashes, six of which caused fatalities and 31 others that resulted in injuries

State troopers say this second fatal crash in two years has them keeping a sharp eye on Continental trucks.