Trucking Firm Faces Trial in Driver’s Death
A Westlake Village trucking company has been ordered to stand trial on manslaughter charges in connection with a crash that killed one of its drivers last year.
Earlier this summer, a Ventura County judge dismissed the charges against R.P. Cummings trucking company. But the district attorney’s office appealed the ruling, and last month Presiding Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Clark found there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the company.
Based on Clark’s ruling, R.P. Cummings will stand trial on one count of voluntary manslaughter, as well as a labor-code violation alleging the firm caused the death of one of its employees.
Patrick Hildebrand, a 41-year-old Ventura resident, died when he lost control of a company tanker truck on a steep grade near Santa Paula and crashed. Prosecutors contend the brakes failed because of poor maintenance.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
