Man charged in deadly I-70 crash pleads guilty

ABC 17 News has confirmed that the driver of a tractor trailer plead guilty last week to involuntary manslaughter, after his semi-truck passed warning signs, hitting a line of cars that were backed up on I-70 east of Columbia, killing one woman on July 1, 2015.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 6, 2017.

The victim, Margaret Haile, 79, from Auxvasse, was waiting in the line of cars. Signage warned about the delays ahead, and a trooper’s patrol car was also on scene with its lights flashing.

Court records claim Anthony West of Georgia was distracted “due to not heeding warning from electronic message board, cautionary signs, and emergency response vehicle of traffic congestion.” West was charged by a Boone County grand jury on Sep. 25, 2015.

Statement from Jessica Caldera, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

“Under circumstances in which a crash was completely avoidable, Mr. West’s recklessness caused an absolutely tragic crash. Every driver on the road has an obligation to pay attention and react to the circumstances of the traffic around them. Mr. West carried an even higher responsibility to other drivers because he was driving a loaded tractor trailer. Despite numerous warnings along I-70, he did not brake from his speed of 68 mph until after he struck Margaret Haile’s vehicle, which was stopped or nearly stopped in traffic.

Margaret Haile was killed upon impact when Mr. West crashed his tractor trailer into her vehicle. Before the crash, she was an exceptionally active 79-year-old woman who had a lot of life left in her and a lot of love left to give to her husband, children, and grandchildren.”