RSSRunaway Truck Kills Apopka Tree Trimmer
In what could be considered a freak accident, a 27-year-old Apopka man was killed by his own truck in a runaway vehicle accident in Lake County on October 14th, 2015. The man, Donovan Thorney, was working as a tree trimmer when his vehicle rolled backward and ended up pinning him between the back of the truck and a nearby power pole.
Thorney had been working along Suburban Terrace and Shore Drive near Winter Garden, where he had parked his truck in a nearby driveway. Once he was parked, he detached a trailer and went to work. Unfortunately, he soon discovered that he had actually left his truck in neutral and failed to apply the emergency brake, as his truck began to roll backwards out of the drive. Florida State troopers report that Thorney had then jumped up onto the vehicle’s running board to try and stop it, but the truck then hit the power pole, leading to Thorney’s death at the scene. The pickup truck was reported by the Florida Highway Patrol to have continued rolling backward until it crashed through a fence on the opposite side of the street.
Donovan Thorney’s employer, Kevin Saxton, sang his praises to central Florida’s WFTV, calling the young man “the best climber [he’s] ever had,” and explaining that Thorney would have done anything, “just like trying to stop a truck going down a driveway.” Clearly, this young tree trimmer will be remembered fondly and with great pride by his friends, family and coworkers.
At present, the incident remains under investigation. Considering the nature of the accident and that it was apparently caused by failure to place the vehicle in park and apply the emergency brake, it seems unlikely that any charges will be filed. Of course, someone will likely be held financially responsible for the property damage that occurred as a result of the incident.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an unexpected accident like this one, it can be near impossible to know where to begin with the financial and legal hurdles ahead of you. Fortunately, the help of an experienced personal injury attorney can make all the difference for your case. Attorney James Cunningham has been representing victims of serious accidents since 1977. For your free initial consultation to discuss your needs and legal rights, call us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.