What we’ve learned about truck driver in deadly crash

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An all-new I-Staff investigation shows the truck driver at fault in a fatal accident should not have been driving the wheel in the first spot.

Shirley Morris died in a crash on Appling-Harlem Highway back again in July, but we have uncovered new details that demonstrates, months later on, the accident has claimed a second life.

The I-Team has also verified the driver is even now driving trucks.

You under no circumstances know when the very last Xmas spent with your liked ones will be your beloved ones’ extremely final Xmas. The Morris spouse and children undoubtedly under no circumstances envisioned they would be celebrating this year without the need of two pretty crucial spouse and children members.

Daryl Morris remembers that fateful day they were driving to Thomson.

“They was gonna place flowers on my brother’s grave – on my brother’s graveside,” he reported.

They never manufactured it. Shirley by no means actually woke up following the crash on June 21, 2022, but her spouse and children hardly ever left her aspect in the clinic. Her spouse, who was also damage in the crash, visited when he could.

“When he started out chatting to her, tears began welling up in her eyes,” recalled Jana Morris, Shirley’s daughter-in-law. “So, we understood, she knew he was there.”

When the finish was in close proximity to, she came property on hospice, so she could go house in peace.

On the day of the accident, she was heading to the cemetery in which her son is buried. Derrick died at just four a long time old in 1975 of leukemia.

“When she died, I informed her…I reported, ‘Go. He’s waiting…’ “shared Cathy Morris Thurmond. “We’re with each other. We’ll be fine. We’ll get treatment of daddy. Which we experimented with to.”

10 days right after Shirley’s demise, Harlem law enforcement manufactured an arrest.

Christina Richardson was billed with homicide by vehicle, next also intently, driving with an expired license, driving with no a license, and working an unregistered car.

The I-Team found that the car belongs to J.S. Rowe. We also identified it is not Richardson’s 1st time receiving arrested for driving an unregistered car or truck or expired tag. She also received a ticket for it very last December in a Kenworth T880. That type of truck demands a CDL or business driver’s license.

The ticket doesn’t identify a corporation, but the I-Staff uncovered it days later, Richardson posted to TikTok. The caption posted with the clip reads: “When DOT says I can not run my new truck wid out DOT #”s & Organization title.”

She shares photos of legislation enforcement pulling her above in her truck. One more photograph displays the words and phrases “J. S. Rowe” penned on the aspect of the truck in what seems to be a marker.

That is not all.

We discovered a different ticket from that very exact cease for “Unlawful Use Of Wi-fi Product in CMV (industrial car or truck). We’re not guaranteed what Richardson was doing with her telephone to make this ticket, but the I-Crew identified lots of examples the place it appears she takes advantage of her cell phone to get video clips of other trucks though driving on her TikTok website page.

We also discovered movies she posted of poor weather that seem to be recorded as she was driving. There are also videos posted of her driving that seem to be recorded by…her.

The Palms-Cost-free Georgia Act took result on July 1, 2018. It reads in element “a driver can’t have their mobile telephone in their palms or on any aspect of their body” while driving.

In one more clip Richardson posted, we uncovered she ducks down in her seat even though the truck’s still going. In yet one more 1 posted the identical day, it appears like she retains her eyes on her telephone, not the highway.

Each clips are dated August 24, 2022. That is right after she was arrested for resulting in Shirley’s dying.

We even found back again in 2020, it appeared Richardson named her truck “The Neckbreaker.” The I-Team didn’t just check social media to see if Richardson was nevertheless driving soon after her arrest we also checked the roadways.

On August 2, 2022, it didn’t acquire long to discover her at the rear of the wheel. The most vital check out, even so, arrived when we began investigating Richardson’s driving record.

Not even counting the expenses related to her most current arrest, the I-Staff received copies of 12 tickets and one warning. We checked, and she racked up fines for these tickets. Court paperwork and receipts exhibit the hundreds she had to pay out in fines.

We identified she was cited in 2020 for managing a halt indication in her truck. She was ticketed in 2017 for not keeping her truck in the two right lanes. Her warning is for not properly securing the load on her truck and for rushing. In full, we counted seven tickets for rushing.

In accordance to the Georgia Section of Driver Solutions (DDS), her industrial license is now latest. Since she was charged with obtaining an expired license in July, it seems it was renewed soon after the deadly accident. The I-Group wanted to know, how is Richardson still driving a industrial truck?

According to Georgia legislation, a driver can get rid of his or her CDL either quickly or for existence if convicted of a significant visitors violation including murder by vehicle, if it is a felony demand. Suitable now, Richardson is facing a person misdemeanor cost. In accordance to Clayton Morris’ demise certification, a 2nd vehicular murder cost could be on the way.

Shirley’s spouse Clayton died on October 1, 2022. That’s 78 days following his spouse. His loss of life certification lists a traumatic brain damage from an accident on Appling-Harlem Highway on June 21st as the bring about.

He was 87 several years young, just like his spouse. “87 heading on 16,” Jana laughed. “Always on the highway. Often likely somewhere.”

She explained equally Shirley and Clayton experienced a good deal of everyday living remaining to live.

Daryl Morris also remembered fondly, “Every Saturday night, they’d go to an auction someplace.” Clayton played the banjo his whole lifestyle, and he even had his individual band named “CD Morris and the Southern Bluegrass Boys.”

He served on the Harlem Metropolis Council for 26 decades and was just one of the founding fathers of the Oliver Hardy Competition. He also served as a father figure to countless young ones on his Tiny League Groups.

Shirley was a teacher for many years, so she aided elevate countless young children in Harlem in excess of the yrs, but her favored time of year was when she could shower her spouse and children with items at Christmas.

“Her list would start out the day soon after Xmas all over again,” laughed Daryl. That checklist grew each and every calendar year. It now features 8 grandkids and six great-grands. This yr, the presents on individuals lists may well suggest far more than they at any time have before.

“When we ended up likely as a result of her home back there, even in July,” Jana claimed, “there had been presently presents that had been wrapped.”

Those people provides will conclude up beneath the tree this 12 months and will have to be unwrapped with out the existence of Shirley and Clayton Morris.

They were being the greatest gifts of all to the Morris spouse and children. The Morris relatives is suing Richardson and J. S. Rowe.

They filed in November. When our I-Crew did some examining, we also observed two other lawsuits currently pending from J. S. Rowe. Each also deal with incidents.

Nevertheless, they include distinct mishaps involving unique motorists. Our I-Group also reached out to J.S. Rowe by mobile phone and to Richardson by social media, but we have not read back again yet.

We will retain you posted if we listen to from them and invite them to share their facet.

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