Tuesday, April 22, 1997
Arizona woman sues Oklahoma trucking company
over death of two sons
By ANTHONY WILSON
An Arizona woman is suing an Oklahoma trucking company over
the death of her two young sons, who were killed in November when
a tractor-trailer clipped their car near Putnam.
Dorothy Terrell and her husband, David, are seeking unspecified
damages in Abilene federal court over the death of Mrs. Terrell's
two sons, Anthony Fry, 11, and Nicholas Fry, 10.
A suit filed Monday charged Groendyke Transport, of Enid, Okla.,
and its trucker, Clay Taylor, of "gross negligence and criminal
conduct."
According to a Reporter-News account of the crash, on the night
of Nov. 6, a station wagon in which Mrs. Terrell and the boys
were riding turned around to seek help in Putnam after experiencing
car trouble. Traveling slowly in the westbound lane, the car was
overtaken by an 18-wheeler.
Taylor reportedly swerved to avoid the car, but clipped it
with the truck's tires, causing the car to spin across the median
and into the eastbound lane, where it smashed into a Lexus.
The force ejected the boys, who were not wearing seat belts.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs. Terrell, 30, was flown to Hendrick Medical Center by First
Flight with critical injuries, as was a passenger in the car.
The Terrells are suing for the mental anguish of losing their
sons and the physical pain and disfigurement Mrs. Terrell suffered.
Her suit claims Taylor was driving too fast, following too closely
and failed to avoid the crash.
In two other suits filed since Friday, a pair of Big Spring
women are suing their employers.
Johnnie Ray is suing the U.S. Justice Department for $120,000
over a fractured fibula she suffered 2-1/2 years ago at the Federal
Correctional Institution in Big Spring.
According to her suit, Ray, a teacher, was thrown from an open-air
cart driven by an inmate. Ray claims the prisoner was driving
too fast and failed to exercise reasonable care.
Among her charges are that she has suffered "permanent
bodily impairment."
Amalia Sanchez is suing Western Container Corp. for unspecified
damages, alleging she was treated unfairly when fired for "allegedly"
sexually harassing a co-worker.
Sanchez worked for the company for 12 years when she was fired
Oct. 21, 1996, the day after a worker lodged the harassment complaint.
The suit doesn't specify what the allegation was. Sanchez's attorney
declined to discuss it.
Sanchez alleges she was falsely accused of harassment and that
she was treated unfairly. The suit notes none of the company's
white, male employees have been disciplined for sexual harassment,
even though her attorney said the behavior was common at Western
Container.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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