The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Arizona-licensed commercial driver Jordan A. Barson to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.
Barson, 45, a driver RoadRunner Transport AZ Inc., of Lake Havasu City, served the federal order, declaring him an imminent hazard, on Dec. 23.
On Dec. 10, he was operating a commercial truck on US95 in Clark County, Nevada, when he struck seven bicyclists and the riders’ escort vehicle from the rear; five bicyclists were pronounced dead at the scene. Another bicyclist and the driver of the escort vehicle were transported to the hospital with injuries.
Barson was subsequently tested by Nevada Highway Patrol officers for controlled substances and was found positive for amphetamine, and – at a level almost ten times the lawful amount permitted by Nevada state law – methamphetamine.
Barson was charged with five counts of Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death, one count of Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm, five counts of Reckless Driving Resulting in Death, and one count of Reckless Driving Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm.
A subsequent investigation of RoadRunner Transport AZ found that neither the carrier nor Barson maintained drivers’ records-of-duty status as required by federal regulations.
Barson and RoadRunner Transport AZ also may be subject to civil penalty enforcement proceedings brought by FMCSA for violations of the Agency’s safety regulations.
In police body-cam video, shared by CD Life, Barson can be seen weeping as he tells officers that he believes he fell asleep just before the crash.
