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Families of truckers killed on I-10 in 2017 settle lawsuit with construction company

ABC-7 has learned the families of the young engaged couple killed when their semi-truck collided with a piece of construction machinery sticking out on Interstate 10 have settled their lawsuit against the company that was overseeing the construction site.

The parents of Patrick Van Fossen and Keserie Paredes had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against JAR Construction, accusing JAR of causing the deaths of Van Fossen and Paredes on the early morning of Dec. 21, 2017.

In July, ABC-7 reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, found numerous safety hazards at JAR’s construction site along I-10 East near Americas Avenue during their inspection the day of the deadly collision. OSHA did not cite the company, stating that it did not have jurisdiction on interstate highways.

The Texas Department of Transportation had told ABC-7 the agency doesn’t oversee construction projects on highways once work is underway. The site, a spokeswoman told ABC-7, becomes the responsibility of the contractor.

The civil trial was scheduled to begin on Sept. 30.

Court documents obtained by ABC-7 show the settlement documents were submitted to the court on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13.

ABC-7 has reached out to the attorneys for the Van Fossen and Paredes families to learn more about the terms of the settlement.

A representative with the court handling the case told ABC-7 they were unaware if those terms were going to be made available.

Since the crash, JAR has repeatedly declined ABC-7’s request for comment on this case.

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