Family of Galveston man killed while walking on seawall files suit

GALVESTON - An auto-pedestrian accident along the Galveston Seawall in April which killed two men and a dog has resulted in a lawsuit, recent Galveston County court records show.

The estate of Steven L. Hunt filed suit on Oct. 4 in Galveston County District Court. The suit states Hunt, 42, and Joseph Owens, 43, were walking a dog on the seawall on April 25 when they were struck by defendant Matthew Shelton, who was allegedly intoxicated.

According to the original petition, Shelton had allegedly been drinking at the nearby Beach Hut when he left the establishment in his 2008 red Mitsubishi Eclipse. Shelton lost control of his vehicle and drove up onto the sidewalk in the 1300 block of Seawall Boulevard and fatally struck the men and the dog.

Authorities charged Shelton with two counts of intoxication manslaughter. He is accused of failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to control the Eclipse and failing to timely apply the brakes, the suit says.

The Beach Hut is also a defendant since the business reportedly served him alcohol beverages though it was aware he was already intoxicated.

Consequently, Hunt's estate seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Attorney Keith C. Purdue with the Grossman Law Offices P.C. in Dallas is representing the plaintiffs.

Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.

Case No. 12-cv-2130