HOUSTON — Houston's MTA is suing a vehicle owner and driver, alleging their negligence caused a crash with an MTA train.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority filed a complaint July 5 in Harris County District Court against Mary Alaniz Rincon and Charles Ray Garcia, alleging Garcia negligently entrusted his Jeep Cherokee to a careless driver.
According to the complaint, on July 13, 2016, a Metro LVR train was damaged when Rincon, driving a motor vehicle owned by Garcia carelessly ran through a red light and struck the train at the intersection of Main Street and St. Joseph Street. The MTA says it has incurred costs in repairing the train totaling $13,705.67.
The plaintiff alleges Rincon failed to keep careful lookout and failed to yield right of way and/or stop the vehicle to avoid a collision.
The MTA seeks trial by jury, actual damages, attorney fees of at least $5,000, costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and all other legal and equitable relief. It is represented by attorneys Dean G. Pappas and Mary M. Markantonis of Dean G. Pappas Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2017-44322