In The News

Trainee runs over, kills driver trainer

A 31-year-old driver trainer from California died Sunday as a result of injuries he received when his trainee ran over him at a Texas truck stop.

Timothy Akkerman of Hemet, CA, and his trainee had pulled into the Plateau Truck Stop in Plateau, TX, late in the afternoon on Sunday, May 23.

According to Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo, the Werner truck had a malfunction in the air system and Akkerman was attempting to fix an air line. Carrillo told Land Line that around 5:30 p.m., there was some sort of communication between Akkerman and the trainee, where the trainee released the brakes and began to pull forward.

Akkerman was run over and dragged for 30 feet. He was pronounced dead approximately two hours later at an area hospital.

The incident is still under investigation, and Carrillo did not release the name of the trainee who had been on the job approximately a month and a half. Carrillo said, however, it was likely the incident would be ruled accidental.

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