Accident suit targets transport company

Two Harris County residents are suing over claims they were injured when the vehicle in which they were passengers allegedly was struck by the wheel of a Freightliner truck.

Dion Shields and Christopher Pierre filed a lawsuit Oct. 24 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Jose Ramon Garces and John Henry Transport Inc., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Shields and Pierre were passengers in a vehicle traveling westbound in the inside lane of Interstate Highway 10 near milepost six on Oct. 27, 2012, when the passenger's side of their vehicle was struck by the outside driver's side tire of a 2003 Freightliner traveling in the outside lane.

The complaint states Garces was the driver of the truck, which was owned by defendant John Henry Transport (JHT), and Garces failed to control his speed, maintain his lane of travel or stop after the incident.

The plaintiffs say police officer Anthony Efthemes located Garces and made him return to the scene of the crash to complete the investigation wherein Garces was cited. The plaintiffs say they sustained severe injuries in the collision. Garces is accused of negligence, and JHT is accused of negligence and negligent entrustment.

The plaintiffs seek more than $75,000 in damages, including medical expenses and lost wages, interest and costs of court. They are represented by attorney Allison H. Gabbert of Godsey Martin in Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 4:14-CV-03057