On the 1-Year Anniversary of a Fatal Accident Molino Mom Sues Trucking Companies for the Death of Her Daughter

One year to the day after Sofia Bennett, a 12-year-old girl from Molino, Florida, died in a multi-vehicle accident, her mother, Sandra Bennett-Tidwell, and John Tidwell have filed a lawsuit against Timber Contractors Trucking, Parker Gas Company, Inc., and J.E. Estes Wood Company, Inc.

Attorney Rachael Gilmer of Levin Papantonio law firm is representing the plaintiffs in this civil action.

“One year ago today, a young life was taken in a crash that never should have happened,” Gilmer said. “No verdict, no settlement, and no courtroom can return a daughter to her family, but accountability is the only way we honor her memory and ensure that this kind of negligence does not claim another life.”

Allegations

According to the Complaint, on December 18, 2024, Sofia was travelling in the front seat of the vehicle her mother was driving on Quintette Road in Santa Rosa County.  Chadwick Daniels was operating a semi-truck as an employee of Parker Gas, and Kathryn Shiver was operating a semi-truck as an employee of Timber Contractors.

Defendant J.E. Estes was handling logistics for the delivery of timber from Timber Contractors.

The Complaint alleges that, “without cause or warning,” Shiver rear-ended Bennett-Tidwell’s vehicle, which then collided into the Parker Gas truck and became sandwiched between it and the Timber Contractors truck. The Parker Gas truck was allegedly stopped and waiting to make an illegal turn on to Tunnel Road.

Bennett-Tidwell sustained “severe and catastrophic injuries” from the collision. Sofia Bennett was killed.

The plaintiffs allege that as employers of Shiver and Daniels, Timber Contractors Trucking and Parker Gas Company breached their duty of care when each semi-truck operator failed to:

• Keep a proper lookout
• Maintain proper control of her vehicle
• Devote their “full time and attention” to the operation of her vehicle
• Prevent the accident and resulting injuries
• Anticipate, plan for, and avoid the collision
• Follow roadway signs

The Complaint further alleges that J.E. Estes negligently breached its duty of care by failing to:

• Properly manage the distribution of timber products
• Set realistic and manageable timelines for its suppliers
• Establish a schedule to allow for safe logistics for picking up and delivering orders
• Avoid a dangerous situation that could/should have been avoided

The Defendants’ negligent conduct directly caused Bennett-Tidwell to sustain damages—expense of medical treatment, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and lost income—which she aims to recover in the civil action. The negligence also caused the death of Bennett-Tidwell’s daughter, Sofia Bennett.

Pursuit for Justice

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Santa Rosa County, Florida

“A year has passed, but the truth has not changed,” Gilmer said. “Sofia Bennett died one week before Christmas because safety was treated as optional by two trucking companies. Her family lives with the consequences every day, and our legal system must ensure that corporations that gamble with human lives are finally forced to answer for the damage they cause.”

Bennett-Tidwell said she continues to struggle with the loss of her daughter.

“Grief doesn’t move on with time—it moves in with you,” Bennett-Tidwell said. “One year after losing my daughter, I carry her with me in everything I do, and I will continue to seek justice in her name.”

About Rachael Gilmer

Rachael Gilmer is a civil trial lawyer and shareholder at Levin Papantonio, where she manages the firm’s motor vehicle department. Licensed in Florida and Alabama, her practice focuses on serious motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases. Gilmer has tried numerous cases to verdict and is an AV Preeminent–rated attorney who is consistently recognized by leading legal organizations and regularly speaks at Florida Justice Association programs.