Listen to this article
On Dec. 7, 2023, at the Riverview Land Preserve landfill, a driver (driving for the defendant trucking company) arrived at the dumping location on the landfill that morning and backed his semi-truck and trailer into position to dump demolition material.
He exited his truck, unlatched the trailer gate, returned to the cab, and began lifting his trailer to dump.
Shortly thereafter, the plaintiff’s decedent arrived in a Priority Waste garbage truck and backed into position next to the defendant’s truck — approximately 17 feet away on the passenger side.
As the defendant’s trailer lifted (approximately 15-20 feet in the air, about 70-90 seconds into the process), the driver heard a “weird creaking noise” and noticed his trailer starting to lean to the right.
The fifth wheel plate detached from the fifth wheel bracket, and the trailer tipped over from the passenger side onto the driver’s side cab of the decedent’s truck.
The decedent was crushed and killed.
Plaintiff’s counsel submitted the case information.
Action: Wrongful death/personal injury
Injuries alleged: Death
Case name: Estate of Kevin Tyner v. Thomas Trucking Services, Inc
Court/case no.: Wayne County Circuit Court/24-000463
Judge: Adel A. Harb
Amount: $1 million
Date: Dec. 1, 2025
Attorneys for plaintiff: Jonathan R. Marko and Alexander Waldman, Marko Law; Maurice Davis, Davis Legal Group
