California driver declared unfit to drive after fatal wreck

December 7, 2017

Land Line Staff

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A fatality motor vehicle crash in September in Arizona has resulted in California-licensed truck driver Dharm Lingam being declared an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that Lingam was operating a large commercial truck on Interstate 10 in Pinal County, Ariz., when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median and collided with another tractor-trailer, killing the driver.

Before the crash, the Arizona Department of Public Safety had received multiple 911 calls from motorists reporting that Lingam’s tractor-trailer was being operated in an erratic and unsafe manner.

FMCSA’s investigation discovered that Lingam, at the time of the crash, had a medical condition that disqualified him from operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce under federal safety regulations. The investigation also revealed that Lingam had provided untrue responses to a federal medical qualification questionnaire he completed and signed on July 31.

Also, on Sept. 18, Lingam refused to provide a mandatory post-crash urine sample. Under federal safety regulations, refusal to provide a urine sample immediately following a fatal CMV crash is treated as a positive test result – and automatically disqualifies the individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

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. Civil penalties of up to $1,811 may be assessed for each violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of the order. Knowing and/or willful violation of the order may also result in criminal penalties.

Lingam also may be subject to a civil penalty enforcement proceeding brought by FMCSA for his violation of the Agency’s safety regulations.