Executive Summary
- Wrongful death settlement of $10 million reached in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
- Collision on I-55 involved a dump truck crossing the median and killing a couple.
- Plaintiffs alleged defendants utilized a “chameleon carrier” scheme to bypass safety ratings.
- Forensic analysis of dashcam data indicated the truck driver had 10 seconds of visibility before impact.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A $10 million settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a late 2020 multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 55 that claimed the lives of a St. Genevieve County couple. The agreement resolves claims against dump truck driver James Milstead, Hall Hauling LLC, Hall Construction LLC, and co-defendant Jacob Stephenson following the crash near Pevely.
According to court documents filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, the incident occurred when Milstead, operating a dump truck for Hall Hauling, rear-ended a vehicle driven by Stephenson. Stephenson was traveling at approximately 13 miles per hour in the northbound lanes due to mechanical issues. Following the initial impact, Milstead’s truck veered across the median cable barriers into southbound traffic, striking Leonard and Rebecca Byrd head-on. Both victims died instantly.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs, Amanda N. Murphy and Shaun M. Falvey of Goldblatt + Singer, stated that forensic analysis of the truck’s dashcam footage revealed Milstead had nearly 11 seconds of unobstructed visibility of Stephenson’s slow-moving vehicle before impact. Electronic data retrieved from the truck indicated Milstead applied brakes, at most, only one second prior to the collision. Court records note that the Missouri State Highway Patrol had cited Stephenson earlier that day for traveling below the minimum speed limit and for vehicle defects.
During the discovery phase, plaintiffs’ counsel alleged they uncovered evidence that Hall Construction was operating as a “chameleon carrier” to evade federal oversight. Records obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests showed Hall Hauling possessed a conditional safety rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Documents found inside the truck cab reportedly linked the operation to Hall Construction, which lacked motor carrier operating authority but shared ownership with Hall Hauling. The defendants denied the allegations regarding the chameleon carrier status.
Commercial Liability & Highway Safety
This settlement underscores the rigorous legal standards applied to commercial motor carriers, particularly regarding corporate structure and safety compliance. The plaintiffs’ use of forensic discovery to allege the existence of a “chameleon carrier”—an entity created to circumvent federal safety ratings—demonstrates the deepening scrutiny in wrongful death litigation involving heavy transport. Furthermore, the reliance on telematics and dashcam evidence remains a pivotal factor in establishing liability distribution among multiple defendants in complex highway collisions.
It is important to note that citations and allegations mentioned in legal filings do not equate to criminal convictions, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
