A Lake County jury awarded a mother, who was stuck in a wrecked vehicle while her daughter died next to her, $2.1 million Wednesday afternoon, according to the woman's attorney.
Mattie Rhenwrick, an 85-year-old Gary resident, was stopped at a traffic light in Columbia City, Ind., with her daughter, Jacquelyn Gates, 59, when a semitrailer smashed into their minivan.
The driver of the semi, Justin Wallace, 25, set his vehicle on cruise control when he slammed into the van at 60 mph, according to Rhenwrick's attorney, Kenneth Allen.
Rhenwrick was stuck in the wreckage with a fractured leg and watched her daughter die, Allen said.
Wallace, who drives for Schneider National Inc., had a history of panicked stops and driving violations, Allen said.
"Schneider knew (Wallace would) inevitably cause a serious wreck, yet they kept him behind the wheel. This verdict sends a clear message: Big trucking companies had better closely monitor their high-risk drivers or a jury will hold them fully accountable for the consequences," Allen said.
