Ala. trucking company at center of crash that killed 11 in Ky. had low safety rating

Trucking co. in fatal crash had low safety rating

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Alabama trucking company involved in a fatal crash that killed 11 people in Kentucky had a poor safety rating from federal regulators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration gave Hester Inc. a rating of 88.4 in February based on inspections during the past 30 months. The agency uses a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the worst score. Any score of 75 or more is considered “deficient.”

The rating is based on the roadside inspections and moving violations of Hester’s 30 drivers.

Kentucky State Police say the driver of a tractor-trailer crossed the median of Interstate 65 in central Kentucky on March 26, slamming into a van and killing 11 people and himself.

Two young children survived the crash, which remains under investigation.