The wife of a man killed in a crash on May 26, 2016 which Machine.Market reported on is suing two tire companies she says are responsible for the blowout which caused a 1980 Grove 3 axle mobile telescopic truck crane to lose control.
Crane Operator, John Wells was driving the crane around 1 p.m. on I-75 southbound in Manatee County, Florida when the cranes front tire thread came undone. The crane veered right, went off the road into an embankment, then it crossed the entrance ramp before crashing into another embankment and overturning. Wells was crushed in the crash and died at the scene.
According to a complaint filed by his wife, the crane also lacked a working seat belt.
Victoria Wells is Wells’ widow. In the Oct. 31 filing, she claims TBC Tire and Battery and Foy’s Transport Tire Service failed to ensure the safety of her husband.
The split tire was sold by TBC to Action Crane Tech, the crane’s owner. The morning of the crash, a Foy’s employee inspected the tires.
TBC is being sued for strict liability and negligence. Foy’s is also being sued for negligence.
Mrs. Wells is seeking damages that exceed $15,000 for herself and her 2-year-old daughter, Julie.
The suit claims that TBC is negligent for failing to properly test and inspect the tire, for failing to warn the company of possible tire defects, and for misrepresenting the tires use on vehicles like the crane.
A GoFundMe was set up by the president of Action Crane, Glenn Pinciotti.
