CalMatters reporters Lauren Hepler and Robert Lewis spent six months investigating how California allows commercial truck drivers to continue driving after fatal crashes. With support from the Fund, the team requested records from all 58 county district attorneys’ offices and sent reporters to courthouses throughout the state to review thousands of case files. The reporting revealed systemic gaps in how California tracks fatal crashes, criminal convictions and drivers’ license status. The state Department of Motor Vehicles took action against a dozen commercial drivers after Hepler and Lewis asked about their cases, suspending licenses or stripping commercial driving privileges.
Grantee reveals that California allows truckers to continue driving after fatal crashes; investigation prompts DMV to take action
