GUILTY PA - Spencer Morrison, 37, & 2 kids killed by woodchipper, Pittsburgh, 13 April 2006

[Mama-cita]

The driver of the truck carrying the woodchipper is being arrested. Among the charges against him are 3 counts of involunatary manslaughter, vehicular homicide, reckless driving, speeding, violating safety requirements, and having forfeit or counterfeit documents. If you watch the video report from Channel 11, you will see the driver admitted to not checking the trailer (hauling the woodchipper), admitted to being hungover on oxycontin (which he stole from his employer) and 1/2 bottle of bourbon the night before, admitted to drinking beer at lunch before the accident as well as taking percocet. This is such a tragedy. An example of how a person's carelessness has completely shattered the life of Spencer Morrison's family. I am hoping the tree service gets charged with something. The news has reported that the wood-chipper was stolen. The driver is being arraigned tonight and Allegheny County DA will make a public statement in the AM tomorrow. Link to WPXI story:
http://www.wpxi.com/news/9155610/detail.html

 

[Mama-cita]

On Mother's Day weekend, the sole survivor of the crash Ethan got to go home with his mommy...
http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_133154514.html

 

[lisag]

I am so gald to hear that Ethan went home... I am still so sad for the loss this family has suffered. I hope there are charges filed, due to ths mans negligence, three people lost their lives and their family will suffer forever.

 

[cheko1]

I missed this when it happened........what a awful tragedy.

Apparently the companies motto wasn't safety at any cost! This is awful....

The little guy will have lots of surgeries to go thru in his life with a broken femur. Thank God the Mom has one little angel left.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Heart-breaking. Could the driver of that vehicle have been any more irresponsible? I'm glad to hear that he's thinking about these victims everyday but it won't bring them back. I'm so sorry for this family.

 

[OkieGranny]

From May 2007:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/n...-chipper-flew-from-truck/stories/200705220230

[Bradley] Demitras, the Pine tree service worker whose wood chipper detached from his truck in April 2006 and killed three members of a family, will spend between nine and 18 months in jail, beginning June 18.

He'll then face six years of probation. He must work during that time with trucking companies to ensure their trailers are properly hitched, as required by law... Mr. Demitras never checked the connections between his Ford truck and his trailer, but he never attached them, either; another tree employee did...

Two months earlier, he'd pleaded guilty to numerous misdemeanor charges, including three counts of involuntary manslaughter, against the advice of Mr. Thomassey, who pushed for a trial.