New Mexico Jury Awards $47 Million in Trucking Crash Verdict

A New Mexico jury awarded $47 million to Austin Drewry Jackson and his mother, Crystal Gayle Drewry, in a lawsuit against Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC and its subsidiary Maxum Petroleum Operating Company. The verdict, handed down on Friday, October 19th in Tierra Amarilla, stems from a head-on collision on a foggy night in November 2022 on a two-lane highway near Carlsbad.

Austin Drewry Jackson was 21 years old at the time of the crash. The Louisiana native, who had joined the National Guard at 18 and served on two deployments, was working on an oil rig in New Mexico and planning to return home for Thanksgiving. Traveling east on NM 128, his vehicle was struck head-on by a westbound commercial tanker truck. The crash left him with severe traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, bone injuries, and internal organ damage. He is now bedridden, requires 24/7 care from his mother, and cannot speak or function without assistance.

The lawsuit alleged the truck driver was traveling above the 55 mph speed limit for the foggy conditions and failed to properly respond to Drewry’s vehicle. The driver, Marcos Alejandro Romero, had previously been disciplined by Pilot Thomas Logistics for speeding. He was later dismissed as a party in the case by a judge. The plaintiffs' lead attorney, James Tawney, stated the crash was preventable. If the driver would’ve just stopped for half a second more, hit the brakes for half a second more, slowed down like he’s supposed to do in the fog or get off the road in the fog, the crash would have never happened, Tawney said. Crystal Drewry chose to take the case to trial, believing a jury would show more compassion than a settlement offer.

Legal Proceedings and Defense Actions

The case proceeded in the First Judicial District Court under Judge Francis J. Mathew after claims against the driver were dismissed. The lawsuit, Austin Drewry Jackson et al. V. Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC et al., was filed on April 26, 2024. Jury selection began on October 5. During proceedings, the defendants filed motions challenging the plaintiffs’ claims for punitive damages and other issues.

The corporate defendants initially offered $100,000 to settle the case before trial. James Tawney criticized that figure. “The defense’s first pretrial offer of $100,000 did not come close to acknowledging the harm Austin suffered or the care he will need,” he said. The plaintiffs rejected the offer and pursued the trial, resulting in the $47 million award. As of October 19, court records did not show a final judgment or notice of appeal had been separately entered.

Industry Context and Broader Implications

The $47 million verdict is among the largest reported for a trucking accident in New Mexico in recent years and is described as one of the largest amounts for a non-fatal crash. It arrives amid growing industry concern over 'nuclear verdicts'-jury awards exceeding $10 million-and their impact on trucking companies' insurance costs and financial stability.

This trend is not isolated. In July, a Texas jury issued a $104 million award against Mesilla Valley Transportation in a fatal truck crash lawsuit. A 2025 study by the American Transportation Research Institute found that allegations of speeding and other pre-crash negligence can significantly increase jury awards against trucking companies. The New Mexico case directly involved such allegations, with the driver found to be speeding in fog.

For Crystal Drewry, the award is about securing her son's future. She stated the $47 million will help her get the care and resources Austin needs that he has been unable to receive. It ensures he will be taken care of for the rest of his life, even after she is gone.