Friends Remember FedEx Driver Killed In I-40 Crash

Friends and colleagues remember a man who was tragically killed in a fiery crash last week on I- 40 near Meridian Avenue. 

The victim's Fed Ex truck ran into a concrete barrier after he was hit by a reckless driver. 

Sam Chitty's friends and colleagues said after working with Fed-Ex for over thirty years, Chitty looked forward to retiring soon. 

“I think he was just wanting to spend time with his family, his grandkids. He had a bunch of grandkids and that's what he enjoyed doing,” said friend Jay Jacobs.  

“He was a natural born teacher in that it gave him great pleasure to be able to teach someone something,” said best friend Dennis Patterson. 

After spending more than 30 years driving a truck for Fed Ex, friend Jay Jacobs said Sam Chitty, 64, looked forward to spending his golden years away from the road. 

“At the end of the year, he was planning on retiring at the end of the year,” said Jacobs.    

His sudden death has made his loss even more bitter for best friend Dennis Patterson. 

“This stuff happens, and it changes people's lives forever. His family is the nicest, best family—ever,” said Patterson.                

Chitty was in his eighteen-wheeler, when troopers said a reckless driver identified as Justin Frank, struck Chitty's semi forcing it into a concrete barrier. 

“People don't understand, these trucks don't stop on a dime. It's not a 3,000-pound car,” said Jacobs.       

It turned over, bursting into flames. Chitty's friends say the accident never should have happened. 

“They took a life for no reason, no reason other than he was stupid and driving stupid,” said Patterson. 

“Everybody is in a hurry, they're distracted. They're either messing with their radio, messing with their phones,” said Jacobs. 

Troopers arrested Franks on a manslaughter complaint. 

Prosecutors have filed charges.