CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Ahead of expected severe storms in April, a Clarksville man  moved his 2001 Ford Excursion onto the street, to limit any damage from falling debris. But instead of storm damage, on April 2, his truck took a hit from a UPS driver. As seen on J. Burgos’ home security camera footage, the driver backs up, looks at the damage and then drives away.

“I started looking through my Ring footage, and then I found that video,” Burgos told Clarksville Now. “Honestly, I was more upset at the fact that the guy left without saying anything than the fact that he hit my vehicle. It was kind of like an insult. This guy’s going to hit my vehicle then just leave without owning up to it.”

‘You can’t buy a reliable vehicle at $3,000’

Now, Burgos is trying to make sense of it all after Liberty Mutual, UPS’s insurance company, deemed the vehicle totaled and offered him around $3,000 for its value.

“The vehicle is a 2001 Ford Excursion — limited, it’s four-wheel drive,” Burgos told Clarksville Now. “It has 250,000 miles on it, which is pretty common for them, believe it or not. Given the fact that they aren’t made anymore, they’ve become, I don’t want to say collector’s item, but they’ve become very sought-after.

“I’m not looking to pay my house off or anything. If they are going to total my vehicle, help me get into another vehicle,” he said. “You can’t buy a reliable vehicle at $3,000.”

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Monday morning, Clarksville Now reached out to Liberty Mutual for comment. They declined, saying they said they don’t publicly discuss individual claims. But by Monday afternoon, they had raised the amount from $3,000 to $8,000. Burgos said he plans to accept.

‘Appropriate discipline’ promised

Burgos said he also hasn’t appreciated the lack of communication from UPS, including when they sent an investigator to his house to look at the damage without his knowledge.

When contacted by Clarksville Now, UPS Global Communications spokesperson Becca Hunnicutt said, “We are aware of an incident involving one of our drivers. Drivers are taught to be aware of their surroundings and to report incidents to their management team. We have taken appropriate discipline with the employee involved.”

When asked what those disciplinary actions were, Hunnicutt said UPS doesn’t comment on specific personnel issues.

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