Jeffersonville man cleared of felony charges in crash that left semi dangling off 2nd Street Bridge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The driver of a pickup truck charged for his role in the four-vehicle crash in March that left a semi dangling off the side of the 2nd Street Bridge had most of his case dismissed by a Jefferson County grand jury last week.

Trevor W. Branham, 33, of Jeffersonville, was charged with four counts of wanton endangerment and one count of operating on a suspended license. A grand jury returned a "no true bill" on the felony wanton endangerment charges Thursday, meaning there was not enough evidence for the case to move forward.

The suspended license charge was sent back to Jefferson district court. A hearing on that charge has been scheduled for Sept. 27.

He was released from jail in March on a $20,000 partially secured bond.

The crash on March 1 made headlines after the rig broke through the railing of the Second Street Bridge, resulting in a daring rescue of the semitruck driver by Louisville Fire & Rescue.

A spokesman for the Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said the grand jury determined there was not enough evidence to show that Branham was "engaging in conduct creating a substantial danger or serious physical injury."

Attorney Scott Barton, who represents Branham, said the county attorney rushed to judgement because the accident was highly publicized in the media.

"We feel terrible for the victims," he said. "However, it was glamorized, it was like a movie scene. But it was a car accident, a terrible tragedy that happens every single day. There was no excessive speed, no alcohol ... ."

Witnesses told police that Branham's Chevrolet C1500 truck was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic in the southbound lanes, when it hit a stalled vehicle in the right lane.

Police said Branham's vehicle lost control and crossed into northbound lanes, hitting another car with two people inside before crashing into the Sysco semi tractor-trailer driven by 26-year-old Sydney Thomas.

LMPD Detective Clarence Beauford previously testified Thomas "went off the west side of the bridge ... hanging off the river, off the bridge."

Thomas went to the hospital but was not physically injured, according to the detective.

The semi snagged on the bridge beam, which kept it from dropping into the Ohio River. Sydney was trapped in the cab approximately 45 minutes before she was rescued.

Branham's arrest report said he "drove the vehicle under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, placing himself and other motorists at risk for serious physical injury or death."

But in a court hearing in May, Barton argued police could not determine how fast Branham was going or whether he was weaving.

Barton told a judge "this is a traffic accident that happens everyday" with no proof his client was speeding.

"This one just happens to be on the news and they charge him with a wanton endangerment first because it's on the news," Barton argued.