The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared New Jersey-licensed commercial driver Quentin Campbell to be an imminent hazard to public safety.
In conjunction with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the FMCSA has disqualified him from operating any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for which a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required. The federal agency served Campbell on Oct. 15, 2020.
On Sept. 4, 2020, Campbell was operating a tractor-trailer on Interstate 90 in Monroe County, New York. He was traveling westbound when he made an illegal U-turn and was struck by an eastbound passenger vehicle, according to the FMCSA.
The accident killed both occupants of the passenger vehicle. However, Campbell didn’t stop his vehicle. Instead, he completed the illegal U-turn and fled the scene. New York State police officers arrested him. Campbell faces two counts of manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Campbell’s “blatant and egregious violations of the [federal safety regulations] and ongoing and repeated disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and the motoring public.”
Failure to comply with the provisions of a federal imminent hazard out-of-service order may result in action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for equitable relief and punitive damages. There is potential for civil penalties of up to $1,848 to be assessed for each violation. In addition, knowing and/or willful violation of the order may also result in criminal penalties.
Due to his violation of the Agency’s safety regulations, Campbell also may be subject to a civil penalty enforcement proceeding brought by FMCSA
