Cassandra Linder

About Cassandra:

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Linder was well liked and respected among her peers. She loved to read and had excellent grades. She was active in dance and loved managing track and basketball as well as coaching gymnastics. She also loved music and sunflowers and was a huge Taylor Swift fan.

Crash Description:

On March 13, 2023, Cassandra was driving from her sister’s house after picking up some things when her car was struck head-on by a commercial truck driver who swerved into her lane. The driver of the truck told police that he was talking on a cell phone and had leaned over to pick up a bottle of water that had rolled onto the floor when his tanker truck struck Cassy’s car. Her car was so badly damaged that it took emergency personnel 20+ minutes to extract her from the wreckage. She died at a nearby hospital a short time later.

Life After the Crash:

Since that tragic event, her family has dedicated itself to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and simple steps that drivers can take to keep themselves and others on the road safe. The CMV driver was initially charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, but on April 1, 2025, was given a plea deal to vehicular homicide that included only 30 days in the county jail. Cassy’s family asked the Finney Co. Attorney, “Where was Cassy’s plea deal March 13, 2023.” Their small community is outraged by the amount of injustice in the case.