$1.5 Million Awarded to Family of Man Killed by Garbage Truck
An 87-year-old man was killed by a garbage truck while walking in Spring Grove in 2021. McHenry County court records show that his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit and reached a settlement with the company for $1.5 million in January 2023.
In September 2021, a Flood Brothers Disposal garbage truck struck and killed Glenn Reed, who was attempting to cross the road near the intersection of Michigan and Huran. The truck was attempting to turn onto the street at the time of the collision.
Reed’s family filed a lawsuit alleging that the Flood Brothers driver, Ricardo Guerrero, failed to yield or reduce speed, maintain control of the vehicle and equip adequate brakes, and avoid colliding with Reed.
Spring Grove police cited Ricardo Guerrero, for failing to exercise due care in order to avoid striking a pedestrian and failing to reduce speed in order to avoid a collision.
Guerrero pleaded guilty to failing to exercise due care and the other citation was dismissed. In May, he was sentenced to one year of court supervision, 100 hours of public service, and $576.50 in fines and fees.
According to the lawsuit, Reed’s death resulted in the family losing “service, support, society, companionship, love, and affection” for the family, who also experienced “substantial grief, sorrow, and mental suffering.”
The lawsuit was settled a week after it was originally filed. The $1.5 million settlement will go towards lawyer fees, then be split between Reed’s daughters, Lori Reed and Tammie Leedle. His daughters will each receive a little under $500,000.
Reed was the owner of Reed’s Construction and Pier Service and a longtime member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He was living in Spring Grove at the time of his death.
