Amazon and Valparaiso Trucking are both denying responsibility after a deadly I-75 crash that killed two men and injured several others, including children. The May 11 wreck in East Ridge, Tennessee involved seven vehicles and ended in a fiery explosion.
Joseph Antionier, 65, now faces multiple serious charges including two counts of reckless homicide. The truck driver was released early Thursday morning after posting 10% of his $165,000 bond, according to News Channel 9.
Authorities say Antionier was driving “recklessly” in the minutes before the crash. He was operating a truck for Florida-based Valparaiso Trucking Corp, which was contracted by Amazon at the time of the incident.
Amazon has distanced itself from the accident, pointing out that Antionier wasn’t directly employed by the e-commerce giant. Meanwhile, Valparaiso Trucking owner Wisner Florestant also rejected responsibility during statements made Wednesday.
“He’s not a rookie,” Florestant said of Antionier. “He’s a grown man who’s been driving for years.”
Florestant claims his seven truck drivers are all owner-operators with clean records. However, investigations revealed Valparaiso Trucking Corp has received several citations for violations in 2025.
The crash, reported widely across trucking industry publications, has raised questions about oversight and safety procedures among Amazon contractors. Florestant maintains he’s cooperating with investigators and doing his “due diligence.”
The trucker is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 20th. Families of the victims are still awaiting answers as both companies connected to the driver continue deflecting responsibility.