EXCLUSIVE: Local parents sue major truck company after crash that killed 10-year-old son

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax first reported on the crash that killed Eli Warren and severely injured Releia Warren, Eli’s mother, in January.

10-year-old boy killed in crash 10-year-old boy killed in crash

Now, a family attorney said the crash was the result of distracted driving. As a result, the Warren family is suing Landstar Ranger Inc. and its driver, Anthony Lumpkin, for $30,000 in damages related to funeral costs, hospital bills and counseling.

Eli and his mother were driving down Interstate 10 when they were hit by a tractor-trailer Jan. 7. The tractor-trailer was in the left lane heading eastbound near Chaffee Road.

Florida Highway Patrol said the Honda Odyssey was driving on the opposite side of the road, also in the left lane. The tractor-trailer went off the road into the grass median, overturned and hit the mother and son head-on.

FHP confirmed to Action News Jax that the driver of the tractor trailer was on his phone, but “whether or not it met the level or the reasoning behind the crash is undetermined.”

Joe Fried, the attorney representing the Warren family, sent a statement only to Action News Jax reporter Meghan Moriarty. In it he said, “The investigation has revealed that Mr. Lumpkin was on his cell phone for over 6 hours leading up to the crash and that he may have been engaged in texting while driving.” Fried went on to say, “Investigators also found a DVD player with a DVD in it in the cab of Mr. Lumpkin’s truck after the crash, but it is still unclear whether he was watching it while driving.”

Landstar requires its drivers to have dash cameras and telematics devices to monitor driving behavior. Landstar did not require Lumpkin to use those devices.

Releia Warren was in the hospital for three weeks following the crash. She has suffered permanent disability and disfigurement from the crash, according to Fried’s complaint.

Moriarty previously spoke with Eli’s father, Charles, about his son’s death. Right now, the family would like their privacy and is speaking only through their attorney.

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Action News Jax contacted the attorney representing Landstar and Lumpkin but has not heard back yet. We also reached out to Florida Highway Patrol but have not heard back.

As of right now, Lumpkin has only been issued a citation for careless driving. The case is still open, according to Duval County Clerk of Courts resource ePortal.

FHP confirms the driver of the tractor trailer was on his phone, but “whether or not it met the level or the reasoning behind the crash is undetermined.”

Read the letter from the family’s attorney below:

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