HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — A deadly local crash involving a tractor-trailer and a party bus in 2022 has led to alarming revelations about the current state of the trucking industry.

Three people were killed in a party bus that was rear-ended on Interstate 64 in Williamsburg by a Freightliner truck from Triton Logistics . According to a federal investigation the truck driver lied to state police about having a second driver and later revealed a process for altering his log book, making it appear he had had more rest then he really did.

A former Triton driver and a long-time trucker and commercial driver’s license (CDL) instructor both say the Dec. 16, 2022 crash that killed three people inside the bus and left several others injured signals negative forces at work on the nation’s highways.

Ed Henk of Gloucester has held his CDL for 46 years and taught the Virginia CDL course for 10 years in Newport News at Shipper’s Choice driving school. Henk said the freight companies are too cheap, the roads are too congested and the instructors are too young.

“You’re getting a guy that has six months experience being your trainer,” he said. “It puts somebody’s life in jeopardy.”

As a result, Henk looked at the horrific crash in Williamsburg and said he’s not necessarily surprised.

“The driver’s got to live with that on his mind,” Henk said. “He was the one that chose to do that run.”

The Triton driver told federal investigators his company had a process where he could alter his electronic log by contacting a data center in Lithuania. That would make it look like the driver had more rest than he really did. The crash happened in the middle of the night — and the driver was hauling beer from Chicago to Chesapeake.

“That’s nowhere near eight hours,” Henk said. “That’s a two day run on a truck.”

Federal Motor Carriers law states that once truckers have driven for eight hours, they have to take a 30-minute break. But Henk said drivers need to stand up to unrealistic and dangerous schedules.

“If the company is violating the Federal Motor Carriers, it’s up to the drivers to report it,” he said.

One of Henk’s former students was caught up in the Williamsburg crash even though he had nothing to do with it. Dwayne Sykes had worked for Triton but left the company two weeks before the crash. But he was listed by Triton as the phantom second driver in the truck that killed three people and injured several others.

Sykes was asleep at home in Hampton at the time, but in his Triton days, he once fell asleep at the wrong time.

“It’s very dangerous,” Sykes said. “I fell asleep before. I never hurt anybody, but I woke up screaming. Because I had nodded off and for me to drop the ball like that and allow them to push me, it saddens me.”

Now, he drives for a company that has shorter runs — and less pressure.

“I love my company now,” Sykes said. “I get my rest. It feels good that I’m not out here making any mistakes.”

A recent report from Stacker and Truckinfo.net looked at Department of Transportation data on truck crashes, with Virginia ranking 13th worst in the nation when it comes to crashes involving large trucks compared with population.

The most recent study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that fatigue and work-related pressure were both among the top seven factors associated with truck crashes.

Sykes said it was easy to get caught up in that pressure with his old company.

“We couldn’t say no,” Sykes said. “We’re in fear for our jobs and not being able to provide for our families, we pushed ourselves when we shouldn’t have.”

Henk said we will see more tractor trailer tragedies until the companies get more realistic — and the drivers take a stand.

“Without a doubt,” Henk said.

Triton has not yet responded to requests for comment on this story. The company had no comment when contacted for our previous reports.

10 On Your Side checked federal courts nationwide and found no case yet involving Triton and the Williamsburg fatal crash.

Truck drivers and other workers affecting commercial motor vehicle safety or
security are protected from retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.