Chilton County Jury Awards $3.5 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

By Andrew Weatherford

Published on August 18, 2009

The family of a man who was killed in an auto accident in Wetumpka has been awarded a settlement of $3.5 million by a Chilton County jury. James Sanderson, 56, was killed last January when his van was rear-ended by a logging truck and he was crushed between that truck and another that was stopped in front of him. The accident took place as Sanderson was waiting to take a left at the intersection of Highways 14 and 170.

The logging truck that struck Sanderson was operated by Ken Gorum trucking and driven by Gary Fruge. Experts testified during the trial that Fruge was traveling between fifteen and twenty miles over the speed limit prior to crashing into Sanderson's vehicle. Fruge's truck also had faulty brakes, according to J. Cole Portis, the Sanderson family attorney.

The victim is survived by his wife, Annie M. Sanderson, and their three children, Derek, Josh, and Amy.

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