Joseph Antoinier
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed following the deadly Mother’s Day 2025 crash on Interstate 75 in East Ridge that claimed three lives.
The suit was filed by Heather Marie Huggins, whose husband, David Jeffrey Huggins, died in the crash. Named as defendants are Valparaiso Trucking Corporation, driver Joseph Antoinier, and three Amazon-affiliated companies.
The crash occurred May 11, 2025, when a tractor-trailer traveling at highway speeds failed to slow for traffic on northbound I-75, triggering a multi-vehicle pileup. The collision involved several vehicles and fires, and David Huggins was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the complaint, the truck was hauling Amazon-related freight, and the driver was operating under the direction of the companies named. The lawsuit also alleges the driver was driving erratically prior to the crash and did not brake as traffic slowed.
The filing further claims the companies failed to properly vet and monitor carriers and drivers and continued using trucking companies with known safety violations. It also points to delivery systems and route management practices that allegedly contributed to unsafe road conditions.
The crash shut down all northbound lanes of I-75 and prompted a large emergency response. Three people, including an infant, were killed.
Driver Joseph Antoinier was later indicted on multiple charges. The lawsuit seeks damages and a jury trial.
