Case Upheld Against Clinton Truck Company HARRISBURG, PA (kccu-fm) - A Pennsylvania appeals court upholds a 4.5 million dollar jury verdict against a truck manufacturer over a fatal accident near Pittsburgh four years ago.

Two families sued Sinor Manufacturing Incorporated after a hose dangling from a moving fire truck became stuck under a parked car, then whipped around and struck two 10-year-old girls standing on a nearby lawn.

Erin Schmidt died of head injuries and her close friend, Joeylynne Jeffress, suffered extensive injuries but survived.

The court ruled that the Clinton, Oklahoma-based Sinor had purchased at least part of the company that manufactured the truck and thus inherited liability for the accident. Sinor is now known as Freightliner Specialty Vehicles Incorporated.

Phone messages seeking comment from Freightliner Specialty Vehicles president Tim Sinor and the company's attorney, Kim M. Watterson, weren't returned.

The plaintiffs earlier reached a $500,000 civil settlement with the Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department. © Copyright 2009, kccu-fm