Florida family awarded $1B after Connor Dzion’s 2017 death after being killed by a semi truck applauds 2025 federal tightening of truck driver rules
Mother Awarded $1 Billion After Son’s Fatal Truck Crash Applauds Tougher Truck Driver Rules
The mother of a Florida teenager killed in a catastrophic trucking crash has been awarded nearly $1 billion in damages and is now publicly supporting stricter federal safety rules for commercial truck drivers, calling the changes a necessary step to prevent similar tragedies.
Connor Dzion, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Creekside High School, was killed on September 4, 2017, just two weeks after starting classes at the University of North Florida. Connor was stopped in traffic on Interstate 95 near Yulee, Florida, after an earlier semi-truck crash blocked the highway for more than an hour. While traffic remained at a standstill, a second tractor-trailer slammed into the line of vehicles at highway speed, killing Connor at the scene.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that the fatal crash was caused by multiple safety violations and distracted driving by two commercial truck drivers working for separate companies. The first driver, employed by AJD Business Services Inc., caused the initial crash after rear-ending a vehicle towing an RV. Testimony showed the driver was distracted by his cellphone, driving beyond legal hours-of-service limits, lacked a valid commercial driver’s license, and was hired without a background check.
The second driver, working for Kahkashan Carrier Inc., struck the stopped traffic without braking until one second before impact, despite passing multiple warning signs. Truck data showed the driver had been on the road for approximately 25 consecutive hours. Attorneys argued the driver could not read English, a violation of federal trucking regulations requiring drivers to understand road signs and safety instructions.
After five days of testimony, a Nassau County jury returned a verdict assigning 90 percent fault to Kahkashan Carrier and 10 percent to AJD Business Services. Connor’s parents were awarded more than $100 million in compensatory damages and $900 million in punitive damages, sending a strong message to trucking companies nationwide about accountability and public safety.
Connor was remembered as a high-achieving student, accomplished golfer, and aspiring physical therapist. His parents established a foundation in his honor to promote roadway safety awareness.
Following the verdict, Connor’s mother, Melissa Dzion, praised a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump strengthening English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers. The order directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to tighten enforcement and place drivers out of service if they cannot read or understand English road signs.
Although the policy change is not directly tied to Connor’s case, Melissa Dzion called it “one huge step in the right direction” and vowed to continue advocating for trucking safety reforms through proposed legislation known as “Connor’s Law.”
