A federal lawsuit filed on Nov. 4 accuses a tractor-trailer driver and his trucking company of causing a crash in Greenville County that killed a pickup truck driver in January 2026. The suit, brought on behalf of Leonard Harding McPeak Jr.’s estate, claims driver Brandon Tavares Hunter backed his rig across the southbound lanes of White Horse Road and into McPeak’s path during an early-morning delivery.
According to FOX Carolina, the lawsuit alleges Hunter was driving a Sherwin-Williams tractor-trailer when he backed the trailer across the road in front of McPeak’s pickup. The pickup was hit, and McPeak died at the scene, the lawsuit alleges. The case is titled Janice Lynett Cornett vs. Contract Transportation Systems Co. and Brandon Tavares Hunter, with Cornett representing McPeak’s estate.
Cornett’s suit accuses Hunter of negligent and reckless driving, while separately alleging that Contract Transportation Systems is responsible for negligent hiring, training and supervision. The filing also seeks to hold the company liable for Hunter’s actions behind the wheel, according to the same report. Cornett is seeking actual and punitive damages exceeding $75,000, along with costs and a jury trial.
How the Crash Unfolded on White Horse Road
Separate local coverage from earlier this year filled in some of the scene details. WYFF reported the crash happened at 6:15 a.m. in the area of 1139 White Horse Road, describing a tractor-trailer backing into a parking lot off the road when a pickup truck struck the side of the trailer.
WSPA reported at the time that the South Carolina Highway Patrol was involved in what it called an active investigation into the fatal wreck. No further details on the investigation’s outcome have been reported.
What the Lawsuit Seeks
Ten months after the crash, the newly filed federal complaint puts McPeak’s death back in the spotlight as Cornett pursues damages against both the driver and his employer. The suit does not just target Hunter’s conduct behind the wheel that morning — it also takes aim at how Contract Transportation Systems trained and supervised him, seeking to make the company answer for his actions in court.
With a jury trial requested and damages sought above $75,000, the case now heads into the federal court system, where the allegations laid out by Cornett on behalf of McPeak’s estate will be tested.
