Fatal Indiana Semi-Truck Accident Leads to Criminal Conviction, Wrongful Death Settlement

Semi-truck drivers have a difficult job that requires them to spend long hours on the road hauling cargo. Obviously, the longer a driver spends behind the wheel, the more fatigue sets in and dulls their reflexes. And without proper rest, a tired driver is far more likely to cause a fatal semi-truck accident.

Couple Killed by Fatigued Truck Driver

Recently, the Indiana courts sorted out the aftermath of one such accident. On the afternoon of March 1, 2023, Jerome and Terri Wait were riding in their sedan heading eastbound on U.S. 30 in Whitley County, Indiana. While stopped at an intersection, a semi-truck plowed into the Waits’ sedan, killing both of them.

A subsequent investigation by local law enforcement determined the semi-truck driver, Sobirjon Rakhimov, failed to apply his brakes just before the collision. According to court records, Rakhimov also “falsified his electronic driving logs to indicate that he had been sleeping when he was actually driving.” In other words, Rakhimov ignored federal “hours of service” regulations limiting how long he could spend on the road without stopping to rest.

Indiana prosecutors charged Rakhimov with two counts of felony reckless homicide. It only took the jury an hour to find him guilty. The trial judge sentenced Rakhimov to three years in prison for both convictions. In April 2025, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Rakhimov’s conviction.

Separately, the Estates of Jerome and Terri Wait, respectively, filed a wrongful death lawsuit, naming Rakhimov and his employer, I&S Transportation LLC, as defendants. The Estate of Jerome Wait also brought a survival action against the same defendants.

A survival action refers to the personal injury claim that an accident victim would have brought had they survived the accident. Through a survival action, the victim’s estate can recover damages for the pain and suffering that the victim experienced between the date of the accident and the moment of death. This can include punitive damages. A wrongful death lawsuit, in contrast, is meant to compensate the victim’s family or heirs for their losses arising from the victim’s death. Indiana law does not permit punitive damages in wrongful death cases.

In this case, only the Estate of Jerome Wait pursued a survival action, because he survived a brief time following the semi-truck accident, while Terri Wait died instantly. The federal judge overseeing the case held in a December 2023 opinion that the Estate could pursue both a survival and wrongful death action. Rakhimov and I&S Transportation subsequently reached an undisclosed settlement with both estates, which led to dismissal of the lawsuit in March 2025.

Contact a Madisonville Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Trucking companies and truck drivers often try to cut corners when it comes to safety–and innocent victims end up paying the price. If you are in this situation, it is important to speak with a qualified Madisonville semi-truck accident lawyer who can advise you of your right to seek compensation. Contact Whitfield Crosby & Flynn to schedule a consultation. We have offices in Madisonville, Kentucky; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sources:

scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4590691721310802875

scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13764924985319646178