FMCSA shuts down Ohio trucker following 2 crashes

Updated Nov 4, 2019
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An Ohio trucker was shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration following an accident in which two people were killed.

The FMCSA declared Gregory Alan Barnhart to be an imminent hazard to public safety Oct. 28 and ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

The FMCSA says on Sept. 28 Barnhart was driving on State Route 534 in Milton Township, Ohio, west of Youngstown, when his vehicle crossed the center line into the oncoming traffic lane, colliding with a cargo van killing its driver and a passenger.

Following the crash, Barnhart was cited for driving while under the influence of a Schedule I drug.  Barnhart also tested positive for one or more Schedule II controlled substances for which he did not possess a valid prescription, according to the FMCSA.

On Sept. 29, Barnhart’s employer directed him to submit to a post-accident control substances testing, which is mandated by federal regulations and required to occur within 32 hours of a fatal crash.  Barnhart failed to meet this requirement, and he was subsequently terminated by his employer who deemed his failure as a refusal to submit to a control substance test.

On Oct. 11, Barnhart was driving a non-CMV on Interstate 76 in Milton Township, when the vehicle left the roadway, traveled into the ditch, overturned and struck a tree. A passenger in Barnhart’s vehicle was transported to the hospital. Barnhart was arrested and charged by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order said Barnhart’s “blatant and egregious violations of [federal safety regulations] and ongoing repeated disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and motoring public.”