A South Texas jury returned a nearly $12 million verdict against the nation’s largest tire maker after finding defective tires caused a wreck that killed six people.

According to a news story published in the McAllen Monitor, the jury found that a manufacturing flaw in a Goodrich tire — made by South Carolina-based Michelin North America — substantially contributed to the New Year’s Eve 2006 crash that occurred just outside Matamoros.

The tire on a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup shredded, forcing the truck into oncoming traffic where it collided with a Chevy Suburban, killing all six passengers and leaving a 10-year old boy in the pickup paralyzed.

Throughout the trial, attorneys argued that leaks in the roof of a Tuscaloosa, Ala., manufacturing plant had damaged the machinery used to make hundreds of tires. The faulty tire on the pickup truck was among that batch.

Defects like this kill people every day. Don’t fight this kind of battle alone. If you or someone you love has been injured in Texas car wreck, contact an experienced Texas car wreck attorney or defective product lawyer for professional insight.

A June 26 wreck in northeastern Oklahoma is being investigated.  The crash killed 10 people.  Donald L. Creed, a truck driver, apparently caused the wreck because of inattention to the road.

Creed had driven for 10 hours straight before the crash, but he did not exceed the federal daily driving limit.  At the scene Creed “stated that vehicles had driven underneath him while he was parked” according to the report.  Creed had no visual obstructions for at least 2,400 feet before the accident.  The cars were stopped because of an earlier wreck.

The report stated that immediately following the wreck “Creed, although injured, was able to walk and negotiate turns and have no indications of having any visual problems.  He would turn his head and look at you when spoken to or when speaking.”

The inquiry found that there was no attempt to brake or take evasive action by Creed and there are no apparent problems with his brakes or steering.  There is “strong evidence” that Creed was using cruise control driving an 18-wheeler about 69.5 to 71 mph for about 4.5 minutes prior to the accident.

Creed has a clean driving record and had his commercial driver’s license renewed in April.  The company Creed drove for, Associated Wholesale Grocers, did not comment.  Unless Creed was driving under the influence, he will most likely face misdemeanor charges of negligent homicide, which carries up to one year of prison for each count according to a County District Attorney.

Four men were killed and a woman was seriously injured in a vehicle accident when an 18-wheeler hit a Honda Civic.  Now the survivor and the widows of the men are suing the driver and his employer.

Hemesto Escalante, 35 years old, was driving a truck and ran a stop sign.  He then collided with the Honda.  The car went under one of the trailers and the four men were killed instantly.  One woman, Concepcion Lopez, survived the crash, but lost her husband.

The plaintiffs are asking for unspecified damages including burial expenses and other punitive damages.  Escalante pleaded not guilty and is being held in a county jail.  Witnesses say that Escalante stopped after the accident and checked the car before driving away.  He faces four counts of vehicular manslaughter and a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

The employer, Panella Trucking, could not be reached for comment.