Survivors from head-on crash file suit for $300K
Two survivors of a head-on crash last year, which claimed one life, have sued the alleged drunk driver of the other vehicle for $300,000.
The plaintiffs, Thomas I. Hodges and Paul H. Ward, were critically injured in a wreck on Victor J. Young Road near Rock Island in April of last year when they were struck head-on by a borrowed vehicle driven by Brian F. Ballew.
The crash claimed the life of Ballew’s passenger, Terry Brandon Lee, 19. Ballew is awaiting trial on vehicular homicide charges for Lee’s death and on charges of vehicle assault for the other persons hurt in the crash.
According to the suit, Ballew was driving a 1997 Dodge Neon in a “negligent and reckless manner at a high rate of speed” when he topped a hill on the rural road slamming head-on into Hodges’ 1990 Ford Thunderbird. The plaintiffs say Ballew was on the wrong side of the road when he topped the hill on the two-lane road.
“Hodges could not see Ballew’s vehicle approaching because of the crest of the hill,” the suit maintains. “After topping the hill at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane, Ballew’s vehicle skid a short distance and struck Hodges’ vehicle head-on.”
The suit says the victims suffered serious and debilitating injuries which require continued treatment.
In addition to suing Ballew, the plaintiffs have named the car’s owners, Diana Craven and Angie Craven as co-defendants. They claim the women gave their consent for Ballew to drive the car.
Ballew remains confined at Warren County Jail awaiting trial. Ballew has requested the court grant him a bond reduction so he can be released prior to trial.