JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol on Monday released its final report in connection with a fiery Buckman Bridge crash in March and revealed that the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the crash will not be criminally charged.
The semi driver, Judson Humphries, was issued a careless driving citation.
Yakel Culclager and her three children, ages 18, 17 and 6, were killed in the crash.
Culclager was in the center lane of the Buckman Bridge after moving over for a possible mechanical malfunction when her SUV was hit by the tractor-trailer.
"It is one of the more severe ones I've ever been involved with in my law enforcement career," FHP Sgt. Dylan Bryan said.
According to the FHP report, Humphries showed "no signs of impairment" after the crash in March.
But the report says that "due to him testing positive for a controlled substance previously, (Humphries) was an unqualified commercial vehicle operator at the time of the crash."
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FHP said he was unqualified because he had not yet completed all the substance abuse program requirements from the previous incident, though he was in the process of completing them.
FHP said that violation is civil and not criminal.
"This was not a criminal intent," Bryan said. "It was not a malicious act by that person. It was just the circumstances where multiple vehicles came together."
Joe Camerlengo, an attorney for the Culclager family, released the following statement:
"The Culclager family is appreciative of the Office of the State Attorney and the Florida Highway Patrol for their diligent investigation into this tragedy. While we respect their decision not to press criminal charges, we are grateful that their citation rightfully finds Mr. Humphries at fault for causing the fatal crash.
"We strongly believe that Mr. Humphries should not have been behind the wheel on that fateful day and he should never be allowed to drive a tractor-trailer again.
Mr. Humphries continues to be an active commercial driver and remains a danger to other drivers and their families. There are additional details and facts that will come to light during the civil case regarding the safety failures of Mr. Humphries and the companies involved, but we cannot comment further at this time."
WJAX
