Garbage Truck Driver Naylor Found Not Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter, DUI

Last year, a train that was carrying Republican members of Congress to West Virginia crashed into a garbage truck on the railroad tracks. One of the garbage truck passengers died, and the other two were seriously injured.

The truck was driven by Dana W. Naylor Jr. of Time Disposal, who was found at fault and indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence (DUI).

During a trial this week, Albemarle County, Va., Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Higgins ruled that there was no evidence for the DUI-related charge and refused to allow blood test results that revealed Naylor had THC in his system or the fact that marijuana was found inside the truck as evidence for a DUI.

That “evidence” was tossed out after Higgins agreed with a toxicology expert’s statement that having traces of THC in your system doesn’t mean you’re impaired.

The jury came to a unanimous decision and sided with Higgins, freeing Naylor of involuntary manslaughter and DUI charges.

“Regardless of the verdict in the criminal case, this tragic incident is a reminder to all haulers to train their drivers not to try and beat the train,” says David Biderman, CEO and executive director of the Solid Waste Association of North America.

NBC29 has more information:

The man accused of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal collision between a trash truck and an Amtrak train last January has been found not guilty.

Authorities had charged Dana William Naylor, Junior, with involuntary manslaughter and DUI maiming in connection with that crash that occurred in Crozet on Lanetown Road on January 31, 2018.

Judge Cheryl Higgins ruled Wednesday, February 27, that there is no evidence for the DUI-related charge.

Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Tracci and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Juan L. Vega wanted to present evidence that Naylor was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash, but Judge Higgins ruled in the defense’s favor and wouldn’t allow the jury to hear it.

Read the full story here.