New Mexico jury awards veteran $47m after tanker crash left him paralysed
A military veteran has been awarded $47 million in damages nearly four years after suffering catastrophic injuries in a head-on collision with a commercial tanker truck. Austin Drewry was just 21 when the November 2022 crash left him with severe brain injuries, spinal cord damage and injuries to his bones and internal organs. He is now bedridden, unable to communicate and entirely dependent on round-the-clock care, with his mother serving as his full-time carer. A Rio Arriba County jury in New Mexico delivered the landmark verdict on Friday, believed to be amongst the largest jury awards for a non-fatal commercial truck crash in the state's history.
The truck involved was operated by Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC, a Texas-based fuel and lubricant company. The driver was travelling above the 55mph speed limit on a foggy night and had previously been disciplined for speeding violations, according to court records. Drewry's legal team argued that the crash could have been prevented had the driver slowed down, braked sooner or pulled off the highway when visibility deteriorated. The defendants initially offered a $100,000 settlement, but the plaintiffs rejected this to pursue a jury verdict that would reflect the true scale of Drewry's lifelong injuries and care needs.
- Military veteran awarded $47m after being hit by speeding truck in 2022
- Now bedridden and unable to communicate due to catastrophic brain injuries
- One of New Mexico's largest jury awards for a non-fatal truck crash
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Commercial tanker trucks carry fuel and other goods on public roads, where drivers must adjust their speed to conditions such as fog and limited visibility. In this case, Austin Drewry was a young military veteran when a collision with a tanker in New Mexico caused severe brain, spinal cord and other injuries.
The tanker was operated by Pilot Thomas Logistics, a Texas-based company. Court records say its driver was travelling above the speed limit and had previously been disciplined for speeding; Drewry’s legal team argued the crash could have been avoided if the driver had slowed down or stopped when visibility worsened.
Drewry now needs round-the-clock care and cannot communicate, with his mother acting as his full-time carer. The case centres on the lasting effects of serious road crashes and the responsibility of drivers and companies to operate commercial vehicles safely.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Military veteran awarded $47m after serial speeder trucker slammed into him and left him unable to walk or talk”.