Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – “Finally, this gut-wrenching chapter of our lives is over,” stated Emily Strickland, mother of Leah Strickland, who tragically died on August 31, 2022, after an automobile accident on I-79 near Clendenin, West Virginia. “We are grateful for a justice system that approved a settlement for the death of our daughter.” she added.
The Circuit Court in Putnam County, approved the settlement of claims against Quality Woods, Inc. and Alleghany Wood Products, Inc. related to the accident resulting in the death of 14-year-old Leah Strickland.
On the evening of August 31, 2022, Leah and her father were traveling home from a soccer match. Leah was a freshman at Herbert Hoover High School. She had scored her first goal as a high-school player earlier in the evening. Around 10:00 p.m., their vehicle collided with a fully loaded flatbed owned and operated by Quality Woods, Inc. The truck was overweight with lumber, poorly lit and traveling at an unsafe, slow rate of speed for the interstate.
Quality Woods, Inc. has agreed to pay the Estate of Leah Strickland (Estate) $3,000,000, which represents the total limits of the applicable liability policies.
The truck was loaded with lumber from Allegheny Wood Products, Inc., which is no longer in business. Alleghany Wood Products, Inc. agreed to pay the Estate, $1,500,000.
“This horrible tragedy was completely preventable,” stated Mark Atkinson of Atkinson & Frampton, PLLC, who represented Ms. Strickland. “The law required the truck in question to have a total weight of just under 26,000 pounds. Unfortunately, it was much heavier,” he added.
In fact, the truck was loaded at more than 36,000 pounds. Additionally, the driver of the truck did not have a proper license. Furthermore, the lighting on the truck was inadequate.
Because the truck was so overweight, when traveling uphill on Interstate 79 it would reach a low speed of 21 miles per hour. This accident occurred while the truck was going uphill, late at night, around a curve, improperly lit and going approximately 21 miles per hour on the interstate.
This situation could have been prevented if the companies involved had complied with regulations by either dispatching two trucks or using a larger truck equipped with proper lighting and operated by a licensed driver.
The Strickland Family urges trucking companies in West Virginia to follow the law and avoid using overweight trucks on highways, hoping to prevent further tragedies.
“I have known Emily my whole life. It has been an honor helping her and her family through this process,” stated John-Mark Atkinson of Atkinson & Frampton, PLLC. He added, “We are pleased with the result of the settlement and hope this helps them heal moving forward.”
Leah Strickland was a caring and compassionate young girl. Always striving for perfection, she was relentless in her efforts with everything she did. Her unwavering drive for perfection not only showed through her grades as an honors student at Herbert Hoover High School but in everything she did. This determination paved the way for many sports accolades in soccer, running, and swimming. Now, this insurmountable determination lives on through those she is survived by.
“We honor her, we remember her, and we will always lift her spirit up,” stated Strickland. “We have created a Foundation and a scholarship in her name,” she added. The family hopes Leah’s Legacy will continue to grow as they hold a 5K Run, 2-mile Walk & Kids Fun Run every September. The 3rd Annual Leah’s Legacy event is scheduled for September 21, 2025, at Slack Plaza in Charleston, WV.
Learn more about the event at www.LeahsLegacyWV.org.
