Photo courtesy of Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton.

Attorney Jamie Moncus representing the family of two deceased men said, “a simple background check could have prevented such a tragedy.” Moncus was referring to a horrific crash that occurred outside Odessa when Hector Botello, Jr. a driver for Sage Enviro Tech, LTD crossed the median and hit a car head-on killing Tommy Rivers & John Reynolds who was passengers in the vehicle.

Moral to the story: Do a thorough background check on employees driving company vehicles and include an MVR.

[e-Book Download: 7 Secrets Background Screening Companies Don’t Want You To know]

FULL STORY By CBS7:
ECTOR COUNTY — The families of two men killed in a 2015 crash outside of Odessa have reached an $11 million settlement with a company whose driver was involved.

On May 4, 2015 John Reynolds of Vicksburg, Mississippi and Tommy Rivers of Fort Worth, Texas were returning home from a fundraiser event in El Paso when they were involved in a head-on collision with Hector Botello Jr.

Botello Jr., who was employed by Sage Enviro Tech, LTD reportedly crossed the median of Interstate 20 near mile marker 112 before the crash.

Both Reynolds and Rivers passed away from their injuries at the scene. Botello was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Following the deadly crash the families of both Reynolds and Rivers filed a lawsuit against Sage Enviro Tech, accusing the company of failing to consider Botello’s history of mental illness and alcohol abuse.

Botello was convicted of DWI in California in 2009.

“A simple background check could have prevented such a tragedy,” said Jamie Moncus of Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton, the firm representing the families. “We recently marked the third Christmas that the families of John Reynolds and Tommy Rivers were without their husbands and fathers, all because of a company’s failure to be careful in hiring drivers. It is our hope that this settlement provides needed support to families whose loved ones were taken from them far too soon.”

A law enforcement report of the crash reportedly listen “long-term alcoholism” and “anxiety condition” as contributing factors in the crash, though Botello was not charged with violations or crimes.

The lawsuit was filed Nueces County in 2017.

SOURCE: www.cbs7.com

[Download our Sample Screening Reports]

[e-Book Download: 7 Secrets Background Screening Companies Don’t Want You To know]