He was sentenced to six months in prison Monday and received a five-year driving suspension. He must also complete community service.
Lallier, 64, was driving a semi truck with a multi-wheeled dump trailer on Interstate 75 near Lockland in the northbound direction on March 28, 2011.
Morrison, a University of Cincinnati student, was driving on I-75 in the opposite direction. As the two vehicles were approaching each other, one of the drop axles on the trailer dropped and a wheel on the dump trailer fell off and bounced across several lanes of traffic.
The wheel then struck the concrete median and became airborne and flew into the southbound lanes of travel. The wheel crashed into Morrison’s windshield. The wheel bounced off his windshield and struck another vehicle as well.
Morrison was pronounced dead at the scene.
Morrison’s father, mother and sister gave statements during Monday’s hearing.
“Our lives are forever changed,” Morrison’s father, Tim Morrison, said.
“If I could change that day I would,” Lallier said as he apologized to the family in court.
According to prosecutors, Lallier stopped only briefly after this happened and then drove back to his employer, Burkett Trucking Company in Hamilton, where mechanics began to repair and replace the missing wheel.
The wheel fell off of the truck because it had not been bolted down properly, according to prosecutors. This allowed the wheel to break off of the lug bolts that held it in place. STAFF REPORT
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