Trucking Company in Fatal Crash Has History of Safety Violations

Freightstar Expedited LLC, the company involved in the crash that killed a Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office sergeant, has over 100 severe safety violations nationwide.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:53pm

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As the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office mourns the loss of Sgt. Michael Schlattman, who was killed during a traffic stop when a semi-truck hit his patrol car, an investigation has found that the trucking company involved, Freightstar Expedited LLC, has a history of safety violations, including over 100 severe violations nationwide related to unsafe driving practices like speeding, reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic laws. The company has also been sued for a prior crash involving injury, and experts say its safety record could be significant in any potential civil or criminal proceedings.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of holding trucking companies accountable for their safety practices, especially when their negligence results in the loss of life. The revelations about Freightstar's extensive history of violations raise concerns about the industry's oversight and the need for stricter regulations to protect the public.

The details

According to reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Freightstar Expedited LLC has over 100 severe safety violations nationwide, with 41 of those related to unsafe driving practices such as speeding, reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic laws. While the company had no deadly crashes in the two years prior to the incident that killed Sgt. Schlattman, it had four crashes involving injuries. The Rio Rancho Police Department's preliminary investigation found that the semi-truck driver failed to yield to the police vehicle, and low visibility due to glare may have been a factor, though the driver has not been charged.

  • Sgt. Michael Schlattman was killed during a traffic stop on February 2026.
  • Freightstar Expedited LLC has had over 100 severe safety violations nationwide, according to reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  • Freightstar has been sued for a prior crash involving injury, with the latest filing in the lawsuit on Monday.

The players

Sgt. Michael Schlattman

A Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office sergeant who was killed during a traffic stop when a semi-truck hit his patrol car.

Freightstar Expedited LLC

A trucking company based in West Chicago that operated the semi-truck involved in the crash that killed Sgt. Schlattman. The company has a history of over 100 severe safety violations nationwide, including 41 related to unsafe driving practices.

Rio Rancho Police Department

The department investigating the crash that killed Sgt. Schlattman, which found that the semi-truck driver failed to yield to the police vehicle and low visibility due to glare may have been a factor.

John Day

A KOAT legal expert who commented on how Freightstar's history of safety violations could be significant in any potential civil or criminal proceedings.

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What they’re saying

“Well, the history of those kind of violations, the safety violations that this company has, it's going to come into play more significantly in a civil case against the trucking company by the estate of the sergeant, if that's what takes place.”

— John Day, KOAT legal expert (KOAT)

“If there are criminal proceedings, if the driver can say, well, I was pressured by my company to bend the rules or break the rules, or cut corners, things like that, that's certainly significant. No indication that that's happened. But in other situations, we've seen that where there's a death, and that's caused by some type of recklessness.”

— John Day, KOAT legal expert (KOAT)

What’s next

The Rio Rancho Police Department's investigation into the crash that killed Sgt. Schlattman is ongoing, and any potential civil or criminal proceedings against Freightstar Expedited LLC will be closely watched.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the need for stronger oversight and accountability in the trucking industry, as the revelations about Freightstar's extensive safety violations raise serious concerns about the company's practices and the potential impact on public safety. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how trucking companies are held responsible for their actions.