Groves man sues drivers involved in pile up

A Groves man has filed suit against the drivers he claims rear-ended him after he stopped for traffic.

Steven Johnson claims he was driving north on N. Main Street in Vidor on May 8, 2008, when he stopped for traffic.

According to the complaint filed March 11 in Jefferson County District Court, defendant Enrique Hernandez failed to stop behind Johnson and rear-ended him. In addition, defendant Janet B. Peevey, who was driving behind Hernandez, failed to control her speed and rear-ended Hernandez, the suit states.

"Based upon the facts as they are known at this time, it is not clear if Peevey struck Hernandez's vehicle which was then knocked into Plaintiff's vehicle, or if Hernandez struck Plaintiff first and then Peevey's vehicle struck Hernandez," the complaint says.

Because of the accident, Johnson claims he incurred medical costs and experienced physical pain, suffering, physical impairment, loss of earnings, disfigurement and mental anguish.

Hernandez and Peevey negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to turn their vehicles to avoid a collision, failed to maintain a clear distance between their vehicles and those in front of them, failed to keep the same distance an ordinary person would, drove too fast and failed to apply their brakes, according to the complaint.

Johnson is seeking a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Trent Devenzio of McCall and Devenzio in Beaumont will be representing him.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: B186-230.