$7.6 Million Settlement for Army Officer Injured in Three-Vehicle I-64 Crash After Tractor-Trailer Left Pickup Blocking the Lane

Shortly after 3:30 a.m. on December 1, 2021, a tractor-trailer struck a pickup truck on Interstate 64, leaving the disabled pickup straddling the right travel lane. The plaintiff, a U.S. Army logistics officer, came upon the scene moments later with no warning. He saw only 'a blinking yellow light' a split-second before his vehicle slammed into the stopped truck.

The crash caused severe, life-threatening injuries. He fractured his right femur, lacerated his liver at grade 3 severity, suffered an internal carotid artery dissection, sustained pulmonary contusions, and received multiple lacerations. He spent 22 days in the hospital and underwent several surgeries. Chronic pain in his legs, hips, back, and neck persisted after discharge, along with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

The case was initially removed to federal court before being remanded to state court. Liability was contested sharply between the two defendants. The driver of the pickup truck argued that the plaintiff had been using his cellphone and was therefore contributorily negligent. Critical dashboard camera footage that could have resolved the dispute was lost despite a spoliation notice having been sent and defense counsel being involved in its chain of custody.

Jason W. Konvicka, Parker E. Allen, and Ashley T. Davis of Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen in Richmond represented the plaintiff. They took the case to mediation, conducted by mediator Michael E. Harman approximately one month before trial, where they overcame the defense's contributory negligence argument. The case resolved one week after mediation concluded.

The $7.6 million settlement, reached May 10, 2024, reflected past medical expenses of roughly $800,000, projected future medical costs of more than $2.3 million, and projected lost military wages and retirement benefits exceeding $15 million. Virginia Lawyers Weekly reported the result in March 2025.