A full newspaper report about my friend, Judy Stanton, who was tragically struck and killed by a hit and run truck driver in Bloomsburg, PA at the Love's Truck stop.
Trucker hit, killed in lot
By SUSAN SCHWARTZ
Press Enterprise Writer
MIFFLINVILLE — A woman who returned to the trucking business after her husband died was killed early Tuesday by a hit-and-run driver at Love's Truck Stop here, State Police report.
Two other truckers found the body of Judith Stanton, 55, of Anderson, Ind., in the parking lot around 6:30 a.m., said Trooper James J. Surmick. She had been walking back to her rig from the Love's store when she died, police said.
Her pet poodle was still waiting for her in the cab of her truck when officers arrived.
Troopers weren't sure if whoever struck her knew she had been hit. Truckers have a lot of blind spots around their vehicles, noted Surmick.
The parking lot was dark, the weather poor and the road slippery when the accident occurred, he said.
Stanton appeared to have died of blunt force trauma, said Ron Taylor, Columbia County deputy coroner.
An autopsy was scheduled for this morning.
A rarity
In Indianapolis, Ind., news of Stanton's death hit hard, said Jamie Steele of Celadon Trucking Inc.
She had worked for the company for 19 years, a rarity in a business where drivers frequently switch employers, Steele said.
As a woman on the road, she was unusual. Only 10 percent of his company's 3,500 employees are female, and Celadon has the second-highest number of female truckers in the industry, he said.
She used to be part of team with her husband, Chuck, taking turns behind the wheel on their journeys. Chuck died about a year ago after leaving the road because of medical issues, according to Steele.
Judith returned to driving, this time with the dog as her only companion. Together, they would go out for three and four weeks at a time, hauling loads through all the lower 48 states and Canada.
Well-known
"Because she had been with us so long, everyone knew her," Steele said. "And she was an excellent, excellent employee."
The company never received a single complaint about her in all her years of work. She was very outgoing, and people loved her, he said.
"She will be sorely missed."
Surmick said troopers cared for the dog until the SPCA took it to its kennel to await Judith's next of kin.
By 11:30 a.m., another Celadon truck had been diverted to Love's to pick up Judith's load and take it back to Indianapolis.
"It sounds cold," Steele said. "But we have to keep the load moving. We have to keep everything transparent for the customer."
The tractor will remain in the area until Judith's relatives decide if they want to collect her belongings themselves, he said. After that, the company will arrange to retrieve the truck.
Information sought
News spread quickly to fellow truckers.
Roger Scollon of Merrillville, Ind., said he got word of the fatal accident on his CB by 7:30 a.m. as he drove up Interstate 81.
Meanwhile, the Love's stop — on Route 339 just off Interstate 80 — remained busy. Truckers and cars pulled in and out past the State Police forensics van parked near the rig.
Troopers ask anyone with information about Judith's death to call them at 387-4261.
Susan Schwartz covers the Berwick area. She can be reached at 752-3646 and susan.s@pressenterprise.net.
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