ST. JOSEPH – A father and son who were driving two dump trucks in a convoy are suing the estate of a man who died in an accident allegedly caused when he struck them head-on.
Charles W. Clark and William H. Clark III filed suit against The Estate of Ralph Cooper, Shackleford Lake Enterprises LLC and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in the 6th Judicial District Court on Dec. 23, 2014.
On Dec. 2, 2014 Cooper, 95, was driving a truck owned by Lake with Jewel D. Lee, 90, as his passenger on Highway 4 in Tenses Parish when allegedly he swerved into oncoming traffic and struck a dump truck being driven by Charles Clark head-on, who then crashed into a ditch after his son William Clark III, who was following behind in another dump truck, struck his his vehicle before colliding with the truck being driven by Cooper.
The plaintiffs contend the accident was completely due to the actions of the defendants. The Clarks both assert they received severe injuries due to the accident and that further Charles Clark was emotionally traumatized when he found his father in the cab of his truck bloodied and unresponsive following the accident.
The defendant is accused of negligence, willful misconduct and wanton misconduct.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for mental anguish, fear, fright, post-traumatic distress, permanent anatomical impairment, cosmetic disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of hearing capacity, impairment of earning capacity and medical expenses.
The Clarks are represented by Michael M. Martin Jr. of New Orleans-based Lamothe Law Firm LLC.
The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Michael E. Lancaster.
Case no. 23659.
Lawsuit filed against estate of 95-year-old who drove vehicle head-on into dump trucks killing passenger, himself
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