New Jersey Trucker Fined $1,350 for Fatal Western Pennsylvania Crash

A New Jersey trucker has been fined $1,350 for a fatal western Pennsylvania crash caused because police say his trailer taillights were damaged when he drove on flattened tires instead of stopping to repair them at roadside.

The (Sharon) Herald reports 54-year-old Wilfredo Suarez, of Clifton, N.J. was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence and other charges in the April 10 crash on Interstate 80 near Grove City.

State police say 55-year-old Michael Holder, of Lansing, Mich., died when his minivan rear-ended the truck’s trailer about 3:30 that morning. Police say Suarez replaced the damaged taillights while police were interviewing other witnesses.

Police say Suarez was trying to save money by driving on flattened tire rims to a garage four miles away instead of stopping to fix the flats.