A jury has awarded $65 million to the son of preschool teacher Megan Arneson after she was killed when a concrete fragment pierced her windshield following an improperly loaded excavator striking an overpass on Aug. 8, 2022. Investigators found the excavator’s arm exceeded the overpass clearance because it was not properly secured. The driver, Darnell Yingling, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide–reckless driving and received community corrections and 300 hours of service. The boy, who sustained minor injuries, is now being raised by his grandparents.
14-Year-Old Awarded $65M After Mother Killed by Falling Debris From Improperly Loaded Excavator
Megan M. ArnesonCredit: kibbey fishburn funeral home
A civil jury has awarded $65 million to the now-14-year-old son of preschool teacher Megan Arneson, who was killed when a piece of concrete fell through her windshield after an improperly loaded excavator struck an overpass on Aug. 8, 2022.
Arneson, a single mother who had taken the day off to surprise her son with a trip to Water World, was driving northbound on I-25 near Mead, Colorado, when the fatal collision occurred. The boy, then 10, suffered only minor injuries and attempted to call for help while his mother was struck; Arneson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Colorado State Patrol investigators concluded that the truck driver, employee Darnell Yingling, who was hauling a large excavator for Import Auto Inc., had failed to properly load and secure the machine. As Yingling passed beneath the Weld County Road 34 overpass, the excavator's extended arm struck the bridge, dislodging concrete and dust that fell into the northbound lanes.
From the law firm’s press release: "As Yingling attempted to pass under the overpass for Weld County Road 34, the extended arm of the excavator struck the bridge, causing a cloud of dust and concrete debris to fall onto the northbound lanes of I-25."
In 2023, Yingling was criminally charged with vehicular homicide. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to vehicular homicide–reckless driving and was sentenced in January 2024 to four years in community corrections plus 300 hours of community service.
Following the criminal case, a civil wrongful-death trial resulted in the $65 million verdict in favor of Arneson’s son, who is now being raised by his grandparents. Attorneys for Import Auto Inc. described the incident as a tragic accident and said the company had no prior incidents in more than 35 years of operation.
The case underscores the serious risks and potential legal consequences of improperly secured heavy equipment on public roadways and highlights the human toll that can follow such lapses.
PEOPLE and other outlets reported on the verdict; attorneys for Import Auto Inc. and for Yingling were contacted for comment.
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