Father of Boy Killed in Kentucky Tractor-Trailer Crash Sues Driver, Owner

By Jim Greene

Published on February 06, 2006

Steven Shadburne and his mother, Deborah Shadburne, 49, were killed when their car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by Robert Clem, Jr., and pushed under another tractor-trailer, according to an Oldham County Police Department accident report. The impact ignited the car's gas tank and engulfed the vehicle in flames. According to the suit, Deborah Shadburne was killed on impact and Steven Shadburne in the fire.

T.J. Smith, attorney for William Shadburne, Steven's father, and for Steven's estate, filed suit last week against Clem and Star Transport, Inc., of Morton, Ill., owners of the vehicle Clem was driving, for wrongful death, severe pain and suffering, and pre-impact terror.

The suit accuses Clem of negligence for not being able to stop in time to prevent the collision with Shadburne's vehicle, which the suit claims was stopped in congested traffic.

After the accident, Clem told police he did not see any brake lights as he approached the congestion, and first thought traffic was only slowed down. He said that when he realized it was stopped he applied his brakes fully, but it was too late to stop in times. The police report cited inattention as a contributory factor.

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