EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (CN) - A Madison County jury awarded more than $3 million to a truck driver and his wife in a personal injury suit. Thomas Edwards was hurt when his truck crashed into part of another truck that had crossed the median of I-55 and intruded into Edwards' lane.
Edwards and his wife sued Millstadt Rendering Co. and the truck driver, Gary Collier, for the 2007 crash in Missouri.
Edward's attorney said Collier had worked more than 19 hours that day and fell asleep.
The defense claimed that Edwards did not slow down to avoid the accident and that his vision was impaired due to uncontrolled diabetes. It also claimed that Collier's tires exploded, causing him to lose control and that there was nothing he could have done to avoid the accident.
The jury found Collier and Millstadt 93 percent at fault and Edwards and his employer, Slay Transportation, 7 percent at fault.
The jury awarded Thomas Edwards $2.5 million in damages and Betty Edwards $800,000. It awarded Slay Transportation $110,000 in property damage.
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