A certified nurse assistant was killed in Lincoln, Nebraska in July of this year in an incident which will lead to a wrongful death suit. The 47 year-old woman died two blocks from her home when her car was hit by a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services van driven by an inmate who was authorized by the institution to transport other inmates involved in work details. The driver of the van had two DUIs and more than one reckless driving conviction on his criminal record.
Prior to slamming into the woman’s vehicle, witnesses said that the van driver ran a red light and was speeding at about 80 miles per hour. Another witness claimed he got his vehicle out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by the correctional institution’s van.
The correctional institution has been harshly criticized for allowing an inmate with those types of traffic convictions to drive the prison van. Three days after the tragic crash, the inmate driver program was suspended by the state of Nebraska.
In a press release state officials promised a thorough review of the policy which led to such an incident. In the weeks that followed, the inmate who drove the van was charged with manslaughter. In the meantime, the victim’s family has filed a wrongful death claim against the van driver as well as the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
If your family has suffered the loss of a loved one because of another person or party’s negligence, you can hold them liable through a wrongful death claim. The Robert Pahlke Law Group provides experienced legal help for victims throughout the state of Nebraska. Our lawyers have more than 85 years of combined experience in personal injury and wrongful death law, and we can help you seek justice for your family’s losses. Contact us to discuss your case or take a few moments to fill out a free case evaluation form.