GALVESTON - A two-vehicle accident with an alleged drunk driver earlier this year has prompted Dickinson locals Ken and Geraldine Garth to sue the motorist.
Recent court papers filed Sept. 27 in Galveston County District Court blame the wreck in question last Jan. 2 on Lavell Williams, also of Dickinson.
The Garths were traveling on Hughes Road in Dickinson while Williams was driving in the opposite direction on the same roadway.
According to the suit, the defendant "crossed the center line of the road coming into the lane and directly towards the plaintiffs."
"Mr. Williams violently struck the plaintiffs' vehicle causing it to spin out," the original petition states.
"The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles."
Williams allegedly "had consumed large amounts of alcohol and was drunk" before the accident, according to the lawsuit.
He is accused of:
- Failing to maintain a single lane;
- Failing to control the speed of his vehicle;
- Operating his vehicle in an unsafe, reckless and dangerous manner; and
- Operating his vehicle while in a state of intoxication from ingesting alcohol and/or other substances into his system.
Police immediately took him into custody for DWI, and he was convicted of the charge in May, the suit states.
Consequently, the claimants seek no more than $125,000 in damages.
They are represented by attorney Tom Gehring of the Law Office of Thomas J. Gehring, PC in Austin.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.
Case No. 12-CV-1251