Settlements Reached in Two Wrongful Death Lawsuits From 2006 Crash

By Andrew Weatherford

Published on July 04, 2009

In settlement agreements reached earlier this month, the estates of two victims killed as a result of a 2006 motor vehicle accident will each receive hundreds of thousands of dollars. The total sum of the settlements is over $900,000.

Norwood Peters, 75, and Betty Hein, 74, both of Breinigsville, were driving in Peters' station wagon in South Whitehall Township when the accident occurred. As they were making a left turn onto Cedar Crest Boulevard from Walbert Avenue, they were struck by a dump truck driven by Ronald S. Whitman Sr., 38, of Lebanon. The truck was carrying materials from a quarry to a construction site and weighed 57,000 pounds.

The plaintiffs claimed that Whitman caused the accident by running a red light; in addition, he was driving with faulty brakes according to police. He pleaded guilty to careless driving and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Whitman's insurance company and the insurance company of his former employer, Houser Construction Services, are responsible for paying the majority of the money to settle the two wrongful death lawsuits.

Because Peters lived for two weeks after the accident at a hospital intensive care unit, his estate will receive the larger share of the settlement for additional pain and suffering. Hein was killed at the scene of the accident.

According to attorney Tyler Tomlinson, who represents the two victim's estates, around $600,000 will go to Peters' estate and about $300,000 will go to Hein's estate.

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