Trucker Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

Truck driver Thomas Wallace, 45, plead guilty to second degree manslaughter for running his rig into a disabled car on the New York Thruway. The driver of the disabled car, mother of two, Julie Stratton, was waiting for assistance after hitting a deer. The investigation, led by the New York State Police, revealed Wallace was streaming pornography on his laptop computer when the crash occurred. The Western New York RCFL (WNYRCFL) provided digital forensics support to investigators and processed the trucker's laptop two days after being submitted to the laboratory for examination.

Several news reports stated Ms. Stratton called 911, but was on the phone only briefly before Wallace hit her vehicle. Investigators questioned why Wallace hit the car on a clear, sunny day when other drivers avoided the same fate. During the course of the investigation, they discovered falsified log books maintained by Wallace, but ruled out drugs and alcohol. They also learned he was on duty for 27 hours, and had less than five hours of sleep—both are violations of federal regulations.

Wallace is scheduled for sentencing in September 2010, and faces five to 15 years in prison.

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