MADISON (WKOW) -- The father of one the teenage victims of a fatal collision caused by a semi-truck driver declines to blame the driver for his family's tragedy.
Columbia County Sheriff's officials say truck driver Chad Collins, of Portage, crossed Highway 51's center line near Arlington Tuesday, hitting a motorcycle and killing 17-year-old Jeremy Brewster and 18-year-old Trevor Jones.
Jones' father, Jason Storts, tells 27 News he is a commercial truck driver for a Middleton stone company. Storts says even a slight deviation by a semi-truck driver can create road hazards, and says truck driving can be a high pressure occupation.
"I don't hold nothin' against him." Storts says. "It's a really hard job and you have a lot of responsibility. You got a lot of weight to stop."
Lieutenant Roger Brandner says Collins, 39, who was driving a Pepsi truck, offered no explanation for his erratic driving. Collins was not hurt in the collision. The crash remains under investigation. Brander says there's no indication alcohol played any role. Brandner says phone records will be checked to make sure texting, or other cell phone distraction, were not factors.
A spokesperson for WP Beverages declined comment on Collins' driving history, citing the ongoing investigation.
In January, Collins was cited for Unsafe Backing of Vehicle, when he backed his semi-truck into a car in Wyocena.
Storts says his son loved motorcycles from a young age, and at the time of the collision, was on his way with Brewster to check out motorcycles for sale. The teens were on Jones' motorcycle, with Brewster driving, Jones as his passenger.
"He loved to ride. He was a free bird."
