Lawsuit Alleges Penske Should Not Have Rented To Driver

The family of a deceased driver has filed a lawsuit against Penske Truck Leasing Company alleging it should have never rented its truck out to the negligent driver.  The family is suing for wrongful death as well as the conscious pain and suffering the deceased went through for the two weeks between the wreck and his death.  The lawsuit alleges Penske failed to check the driver’s extensive driving record that, at the time of the crash, listed incidents including speeding at 86mph in a 70mph zone and being involved in a single- vehicle crash where he crossed the center line and continued to travel across the lane of opposing traffic before crashing into a light pole next to a pedestrian.  He was also convicted just five months prior to this deadly crash of failure to stop for a police officer and driving to endanger, for which his license was suspended for two months.  The Penske van he later rented and was driving cross the center line, making no evasive action or attempt to avoid the collision.  The driver was also indicted on manslaughter and other charges following this crash.  Both the civil and criminal cases are still pending.