Domino’s Drivers Under 18 Fired After Rash of Accidents

Domino’s Pizza Inc., under criticism for a series of fatal traffic accidents involving its delivery drivers, has told its stores to fire or reassign drivers who are under the age of 18, a spokesman said today.

Domino’s spokesman Ron Hingst said federal law prohibited the company from hiring drivers younger than 18, but in some cases people hired for other tasks have ended up delivering pizzas.

The new order will affect about 300 employees at Domino’s company-owned stores, about one-third of the Domino’s 5,000 stores nationally, he said. The franchise stores are being urged to make the same move.

The company’s directive led to confusion at a Miami Domino’s store that gave pink slips to all its under-18 employees Wednesday. Those under 18 who do not drive were rehired later that day, the company stated.