24-year-old Dallas man was killed when his car collided with a disabled tractor-trailer
DALLAS – A Dallas County jury has awarded the plaintiffs in a wrongful death lawsuit $4 million in damages stemming from a 2021 crash that killed Robert Buntyn, 24.
Attorneys with the Texas-based law firm Cowen Rodriguez Peacock represented Mr. Buntyn’s mother and father. The defendants are Newkirk Logistics Inc. and Desiree Boyd, a 23-year-old truck driver who was working on behalf of Newkirk for about two months at the time of the crash.
Ms. Boyd was driving a tractor-trailer westbound on Interstate 635 in Dallas on Sept. 2, 2021, when she ran over something in the road, disconnecting one of her brake airlines. Instead of pulling off the roadway, she stopped her vehicle in the traveling lane of the interstate. She did not attempt to get to the shoulder of the roadway, deploy flares or triangles or put on her four-way flashers to warn other drivers of the immediate danger, and as a result, Mr. Buntyn crashed into the back of the tractor-trailer and was killed.
“Newkirk Logistics and Ms. Boyd broke safety rules that night, and Robert was the one who paid with his life for their negligence,” said attorney Malorie Peacock. “No amount of money will undo this tragedy, but we would like to thank the jury for providing some small measure of justice for Robert’s family.”
Newkirk was found to be 50% responsible for the crash. Plaintiffs alleged that Newkirk failed to ensure its drivers are properly trained in what to do when they are having truck issues on the roadways and how to protect other motorists. Boyd was found to be 40% at fault, and Robert was found to be 10% at fault.
The damages awarded were for loss of companionship and society, and mental anguish. With the 10% reduction for Robert’s negligence, the verdict results in a $3.6 million damages award to Robert’s parents for the loss of their son.
The case is Dara Harris, et al. vs. Newkirk Logistics, Inc., et al., Cause no. CC-21-05418-A in the Dallas County Court at Law no. 1.