Family awarded $9.5 million in Highway 17 crash settlements

A Santa Cruz family finally got some legal closure after their son was killed in a big rig accident three years ago.

A press conference was held Tuesday morning by the family and their counsel. Several questions left Doug and Gail-Jean McGuire heart-broken and confused when a big-rig jack knifed on Highway 17 three years ago, killing their son Daniel. On Thursday many of those questions were answered.

“We are here today to announce a 9.5 million dollar settlement reached yesterday, August 16th, 2017 during trial in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Gail-Jean and Doug McGuire,” said Mcguire family attorney, Robery Allard.

A civil victory for the McGuire family whose son Daniel was killed on Highway 17 when a big-rig lost control and severely damaged 11 cars. That big rig was operated by Saini Trucking out of Tracy, California.

“This unprecedented settlement includes a court order that requires Saini trucking and Saini Brothers trucking to follow the law going forward, or else there will be serious consequences moving forward including jail time, and hefty fines,” said Allard.

Saini Incorporated was forced into bankruptcy as a result of the lawsuit. Allard said the team investigating the accident found that the company’s owner, Iqbal Tambar, had falsified safety inspection documents about the big-rig. The lead officer said the brakes were in terrible condition and the truck should never had been on the road.

“In his words, this truck was an imminent danger to the public, and it was just a matter of time before a tragedy of this kind happened,” said Allard.

Allard said Tambar had a history of falsifying safety documents and breaking the law to keep his big-rig on the road.

“He instructed his driver to avoid an inspection station in Gilroy, California which would have surely uncovered the faulty brakes and this truck would have been taken off the roadway immediately,” said Allard.

KION reached out to the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office to find out why charges weren’t filed against the truck company’s owner who falsified safety records to keep his big-rig on the road. Those calls have not been returned.