Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Las Vegas trucker guilty of manslaughter in crash that killed 4

PASO ROBLES, Calif. — A truck driver who killed four people in a fiery Christmas Eve crash in Central California has been convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter.

The Tribune of San Luis Obispo says Philip Trujillo was found guilty Thursday for the 2014 collision on U.S. 101 near Paso Robles.

Prosecutors say the Las Vegas trucker was reckless and ignored oncoming traffic when he turned his tractor-trailer off the northbound freeway.

He was turning onto a road but authorities say the truck had mechanical problems and was only doing 2 mph when it crossed southbound lanes.

Several motorists managed to avoid the truck but a van hit it and burst into flames, killing all four people on board.

Authorities said the truck had previously been cited for mechanical defects.