Dallas Jury Awards $4 Million After 24-Year-Old Killed by Stalled Semi in Travel Lane on I-635

Shortly before 10 p.m. on September 2, 2021, Desiree Boyd was hauling a load westbound on Interstate 635 near the State Highway 121 interchange in Dallas when her tractor-trailer ran over road debris. The impact disconnected a brake airline and disabled the rig. Boyd brought the truck to a stop in an active travel lane. She did not move to the shoulder, did not deploy flares or reflective triangles, and did not activate her four-way hazard lights.

Robert Buntyn, 24, was driving along the same stretch of freeway when he came upon the darkened, stationary semi with no time to react. He struck the rear of the trailer and was killed. His mother, Dara Harris, and his father, Bryan Buntyn, filed suit against Newkirk Logistics, Inc., the company that owned the truck, and against Boyd directly.

The plaintiffs were represented by Michael Cowen, Malorie Peacock, and Benjamin Julius. At trial in Dallas County Court at Law No. 1, before Judge D'Metria Benson, the attorneys argued two parallel failures: Boyd chose to stop in a live lane rather than reach the shoulder, and Newkirk had not adequately trained its drivers on what to do when a mechanical problem strikes on a busy freeway.

The jury, which returned its verdict on June 13, 2024, apportioned fault at 50 percent to Newkirk Logistics, 40 percent to Boyd, and 10 percent to Robert Buntyn. It awarded $4 million in damages covering past and future loss of companionship and society, and past and future mental anguish for his parents. Because of the 10 percent comparative fault finding against Robert, the collectible judgment was reduced to $3.6 million.

Newkirk and Boyd appealed. As of August 2025, the case was pending before the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals (No. 05-24-01263-CV), with briefing complete and oral argument not yet scheduled.