Ep. 90 - The Safety Tech That Could Have Saved Her Son || After the Crash Podcast

A mother lost her son on I-74 to a crash that never had to happen. The technology to prevent it already existed. The trucking company just didn't install it. In this episode of After the Crash, David Craig talks with Celeste Bowens-Martin, a professional bus driver with a CDL and someone he has represented over the years. In March of 2025, Celeste's oldest son, Isaiah, 35, was killed on I-74 while driving home to Indianapolis from Illinois. His car had crossed the median and come to a complete stop in the opposite lane of travel. A 2024 Freightliner struck him. That truck could have been equipped with crash avoidance technology, sensors, cameras, and active braking that detect a stationary object and stop the truck when a driver doesn't react. It wasn't. Celeste, who has relied on that same safety technology to avoid crashes in her own bus, joins David to explain why she is now committed to advocating for change. ✔️ How collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking systems actually detect stationary vehicles ✔️ Why a 2024 Freightliner may still leave the lot without crash avoidance technology installed ✔️ The real cost of adding these systems: a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per truck ✔️ How safety sensors can be unplugged or left off, and why inspections matter ✔️ A professional CDL driver's firsthand account of technology saving her from crashes ✔️ Why families deserve answers when a preventable crash takes someone they love David Craig is one of the few attorneys in the U.S. who is Board-Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and accredited by the American Bar Association. That means he meets rigorous experience, ethics, and knowledge standards to hold trucking companies and unsafe drivers accountable. With 39+ years handling semi-truck wreck cases, David has seen how corporate decisions to cut costs on safety equipment can change families forever. This episode carries the weight of a grieving mother's loss. Celeste shares who Isaiah was, a gamer, a collector, her travel buddy, her day one, and how she is turning that grief into a mission so that no other family has to sit where she sits now. 👉 Key takeaway: The safety technology to prevent this tractor-trailer crash already existed and was available for the truck that killed Isaiah. A decision to save a few dollars cost a family everything. — 00:00 – Celeste's Message: Companies Must Be Accountable for Their Equipment 00:40 – Welcome to After the Crash & Meeting Celeste Bowens Martin 01:35 – Remembering Isaiah: A Gamer, a Best Friend, and a Son Lost in March 2025 03:42 – Moving Back Home: The Late-Night Drive on I-74 04:47 – What Happened: Crossing the Median and Stopping in the Roadway 05:58 – Crash Avoidance Technology: How Sensors and Auto-Braking Work 06:48 – The 2024 Freightliner That Didn't Have the Safety System Installed 08:03 – A Bus Driver's Firsthand Experience With Collision Avoidance 10:03 – Why Inspections Matter: Sensors That Get Unplugged or Left Off 10:31 – The Real Cost: A Few Hundred to a Few Thousand Dollars Per Truck 12:04 – Should Every Commercial Vehicle Have This Technology? 13:37 – Becoming an Advocate So No Other Family Suffers This Loss 14:50 – Reaching Lawmakers: These Decisions Are About Lives, Not Dollars 17:58 – Who Isaiah Was: The Life of the Party and an Avid Collector 19:51 – Grief, Driving as Therapy, and Living in Isaiah's House 22:21 – Final Thoughts and How to Reach David Craig — If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck crash, don’t wait. Visit https://ckflaw.com or call 1-800-ASK-DAVID for experienced legal help. — Why Listen to After the Crash? Navigating the aftermath of a trucking accident can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. This podcast is designed to educate and empower victims and their families, helping you make informed decisions about your future. — Learn About the Firm: At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, we’ve dedicated over 30 years to fighting for trucking accident victims. From preserving evidence to holding negligent trucking companies accountable, our mission is to protect your rights and secure the justice you deserve. — Download Semitruck Wreck for FREE: https://www.ckflaw.com/truck-accident-ebook/ Follow Us on Socials: Website: https://www.ckflaw.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ckflaw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/craig-kelley-&-faultless-attorneys-at-law Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-800-ASK-DAVID #TruckAccident #TruckingSafety #CrashAvoidance #AfterTheCrash #SemiTruckCrash #RoadSafety #TruckSafetyTech #DavidCraig #CraigKelleyFaultless #WrongfulDeath