Tuscaloosa Woman Sues Chicago Trucking Firm After Thomasville Crash

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa law firm Prince Glover Hayes and the Keahey Law Office of Grove Hill last week filed the first lawsuit in a crash involving an 18-wheeler that killed two people and seriously injured a Tuscaloosa woman.

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The crash occurred on May 6 when a Nissan Rouge Nancy Calvert was hit by a loaded semi-truck and trailer.

The law firm filed the suit in Clarke County Circuit Court, which says Calvert's was one of the four vehicles stopped at a red light in the southbound lane of Highway 43 at the intersection of South Industrial Park Drive in Thomasville. Her vehicle flipped at least once, skidded down the highway and was left overturned and upside down.

Prince Glover Hayes said Calvert was reportedly left hanging upside down following the collision — strapped in by her seat belt and unable to extract herself from the vehicle.

Calvert was rescued vehicle by two bystanders before it caught fire and burned. She was then transported by ambulance to Grove Hill Memorial Hospital where she received treatment with additional treatment to come.

The lawsuit was filed against Chicago-based 4 US Transportation Co. and the driver Andrii Dmyterko — a 45-year-old from Philadelphia who is currently in the U.S. on a work Visa.

Prince Glover Hayes said Dmyterko has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter and is currently in the Clarke County Jail.

The City of Thomasville has said the case remains under investigation and additional charges could be added, while media reports indicate the FBI is now involved in the investigation.

Attorneys Josh Hayes and Blake Williams said this is likely the first of many involving crash, with the Tuscaloosa firm working alongside Grove Hill attorney and former state senator Marc Keahey of the Keahey Law Office.

“Widely circulated dash cam video of the crash shows no sign of the trucker applying his brakes before impact,” Hayes said, “We are committed to fully investigating this matter and are confident that all the facts will come out.” The video, also embedded in the Complaint, is here. Marc Keahey adds, “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our local police and fire departments, including obtaining the ‘black box’ or electronic control module of the truck, we will eventually be able to tell a local jury exactly what happened here. Additionally, the heroic actions of all first responders and bystanders certainly saved our client’s life and countless others.”

The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the harm caused by negligence, recklessness and wantonness on behalf of the driver and trucking company.

Hayes said the firms are actively seeking to gather more information about this collision and urged anyone with information to call PGH firm investigator and retired Tuscaloosa Chief of Police Ken Swindle at (205-361-4938)

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