Questions Remain After Trucker Killed by His Own Truck Along Highway

February 18, 2020

Accidents Trucking News

By Transportation Nation Network

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Garvin County, OK – A 53-year-old trucker was tragically killed by his own semi-truck on Monday along state Highway 7 in Oklahoma.

According to a release from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), Jimmy Hefley, of Davis, OK, was operating along Highway 7 at approximately 10:15 a.m. when for “unknown reasons” he pulled his 1999 Peterbilt over at the I-35 overpass.

While not many details are yet available on the investigation, OHP says Hefley got out of the truck.

Shortly thereafter the vehicle “became mobile under its own power.”

The semi then ran over and crushed Hefley.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by a state medical examiner’s official.

OHP has not yet indicated if a mechanical failure caused Hefley to pull over and exit his truck and/or if Hefley failed to properly set his brakes.

The investigation is ongoing and no further details have been provided at this time.

However, Transportation Nation Network (TNN) can confirm Hefley was employed by Davis, OK-based C&C Contracting Services.

When reached for comment, a representative of C&C said the company would not be issuing a statement at this time.

A look at the company’s inspection history reveals a higher than average vehicle out-of-service (OOS) rate at 50%.

According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), C&C reported four inspections in the last 24 months.

In two of those instances the vehicle was placed OOS.

The company operates 26 power units and employs 15 drivers, according to the FMCSA.

According to its Facebook page, C&C was founded in 1998 and does industrial, commercial, residential, and aggregate projects such as oil field pads, utility and pipeline maintenance, large scale excavation, heavy equipment hauling, roadways, right-a-ways, and cement work.