Truck Driver Accused In Crash That Killed Diplomat Not Guilty

POSTED: 6:03 pm EDT August 2, 2007
UPDATED: 6:30 pm EDT August 2, 2007


GREENSBURG, Pa. -- A jury on Thursday found a truck driver not guilty of vehicular homicide in the death of a Honduran diplomat on the turnpike.

Nuria Ortiz-Navarro was traveling the country in February with her husband and family when, police said, a tractor-trailer smashed into the back of their vehicle, killing her.

The crash happened between the Irwin and New Stanton interchanges of the turnpike.

Police said truck driver Sam Thompson, an illegal immigrant from Ghana, fell asleep at the wheel, causing the crash.

Thompson is married to and has children with a U.S. resident. They have children, but authorities said he never pursued citizenship.

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