La Marque resident sues towing company after hit-and-run crash

GALVESTON - Alleging he was in a hit-and-run crash with a towing company employee, La Marque resident Richard J. Coles has filed a lawsuit.

Coles claims Grady Bolton of Dickinson struck his vehicle with that belonging to Challenger Towing Inc. in Houston on July 8, 2010, and "left the scene of the collision without cause," court papers filed Sept. 1 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 1 say.

The original petition shows the plaintiff was traveling northbound on the left side of the feeder road along Interstate 45 near FM 1959 with the respondent close behind.

Coles states the traffic at the location was "stop and go" because of an accident close by. He asserts Bolton failed to stop the tow truck, slammed into the rear of his vehicle and departed.

The collision rendered Coles' vehicle a total loss and inflicted bodily injury to the plaintiff, the suit says.

Bolton is blamed for failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to keep a clear and reasonable distance, failing to timely apply his brakes and failing to abide by the speed limit while his employer is faulted for respondeat superior.

Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages.

He is represented by attorney George D. Martin of Galveston.

Galveston County Court at Law No. 1 Judge John Grady is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 65,932