A truck driver and his family are suing a farmer in Denver, Colorado, after he hit the farmer’s cow and almost drowned in molasses.
According to Courthouse News Services, Thomas Hooten was driving down Highway 52, hauling a load of molasses, when he had to swerve to avoid a pickup truck but struck a Black Angus Cow. The cow belonged to Naomi and Sean Wood and had escaped that night.
The impact killed the cow and caused the truck to topple over in a ditch, leaving Hooten pinned in his cab.
A complaint sent by Hooten on April 6th to the Federal Court describes his experience:
“While trapped and unable to move, Thomas heard a burp and a splash from the molasses entering the cab from his trailer. Thomas tried to hold himself out of the molasses so that he would not drown in it. Thomas feared that he would drown. Soon thereafter Thomas saw some legs outside of his truck cab and Thomas asked for help. A man said ‘you killed my fucking cow’ or ‘you killed my cow,’ and then the man left.”
Thomas Hooten was eventually rescued by the fire department. He now seeks damages for medical affairs, lost income, physical impairment, and more, while his wife seeks damages for loss of consortium.
