Woman hit while changing flat seeks $100K from driver

GALVESTON - A Galveston County woman claims a speeding vehicle hit her last August while she was changing a tire on Beltway 8 in Houston, recent court documents say.

Yatasha Lacy alleges Deborah Hassenfelt struck her near the intersection of S. Wayside Drive and the Beltway 8 service road on Aug. 6, 2010, according to a lawsuit filed March 18 in Galveston County District Court.

Lacy was traveling home from a friend's house when she had a flat. She pulled over along the feeder road and received assistance from a passing motorist.

The suit says Lacy was helping place the spare tire on her vehicle when Hassenfelt suddenly struck her.

"The defendant was driving in the second lane of the feeder road and failed to see the plaintiff," the original petition says. "The force sent the plaintiff into the air and then back to the ground, causing significant injuries."

Hassenfelt is faulted for failing to timely apply her brakes, failing to maintain a proper lookout and driving her vehicle at a rate of speed not allowed by the law.

"Such conduct was reckless and done with an intentional state of mind," the suit says. "Such gross negligence was the proximate cause of the occurrence."

Lacy claims she sustained injuries to her leg, head, neck and back, and is seeking $100,000 in damages.

The Pinkerton Law Firm PLLC is representing the plaintiff.

Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia is presiding over the case.

Case No. 11-cv-0477