Texas Driver Facing Drug Charges after Accident

A truck driver from Amarillo, Texas, who was involved in a tractor trailer accident in Mississippi, is facing felony drug charges.

The trucker Eugene Lawton III had been involved in an accident on I-20.  According to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, a search of his rig after the accident yielded close to 40 pounds of marijuana. Lawton has been arrested, and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was arrested soon after he was released from a local hospital where he received treatment for minor injuries.

Drivers of commercial trucks, semi trucks and tractor trailers are regulated by state and federal laws that are meant to protect motorists from serious accidents involving these massive vehicles. These laws also govern the use of alcohol and drugs by commercial truckers. There have been enough studies to show that long-haul truckers are more susceptible to amphetamine use. These drugs allow long haul truckers to stay awake, thereby enabling them to drive for longer hours.

This is why there are federal regulations in place that prohibit the use of alcohol and drugs by commercial truck drivers. We have no information yet on whether the truck driver in this particular case was actually intoxicated at the time of the crash. A Houston truck accident lawyer would also want to know of the company’s’ degree of awareness of this truck driver’s criminal behavior   Part of an employer’s duties is to conduct random drug and alcohol testing of the driver. Employers are also required to verify screen drivers not only for drug and alcohol use, but also for a criminal record before hiring them. It’s how our laws protect innocent motorists from serious accidents and injuries.

Please e-mail us NOW for a free evaluation of your Texas Trucking Accident case at info@smslegal.com.