Deep Water Transport in Deep Water

A wrongful death lawsuit, as reported by Yahoo News, has been filed against Deep Water Transport Enterprises, Inc., and one of their drivers, Donnie Hardison, due to alleged negligence and recklessness that resulted in the death of Tricia Tigue.

The suit is being brought against Deep Water Transport Enterprises, Inc., a North Carolina company licensed to do business in the state of California, and their employee Donnie Hardison, on behalf of Tricia Tigue's remaining children, Martin Moreno Jr. and David Moreno, by their father Martin Moreno in San Bernardino County Superior Court, Central Judicial District.

Hardison, of Washington, North Carolina, drove a three-axle Peterbilt tractor truck and a two-axle trailer for Deep Water Transport.  On August 15, 2007 at about 2:25 PM, Hardison illegally parked his rig - using the freeway's emergency lane to take a rest in the truck's sleeper cab -  on the eastbound stretch of the 10 Freeway in San Bernardino. 

Tricia Noelle Tigue, 25 and five-months pregnant at the time, drove her 1993 Honda Accord in the same direction as Hardison's parked rig.  Her car had a sudden tire blowout and she swerved to the right side of the freeway and into the emergency lane.

It was there that she came upon Hardison's truck.  The impact of the collision caused her car to erupt into flames, killing her and her unborn baby instantly.

Brian Case, attorney for the Tigue family, stated, "Donnie Hardison, as an employee of Deep Water Transport Enterprises, Inc., had a duty to drive safely and to obey California Vehicle Code laws. Instead, Hardison breached every one of those duties by negligently, recklessly and illegally parking his truck in a designated emergency lane along one of the busiest freeways in southern California. Because of Hardison's negligence, he caused the violent and fiery car accident that claimed Tricia Tigue's life and the life of her unborn baby, while robbing her surviving children of the mother they loved so dearly."

The lawsuit claims that on the afternoon of the accident Hardison was negligent, careless, reckless and unlawful as an employee of Deep Water Transport Enterprises.  It also states that Deep Water Transport Enterprises also acted in a negligent, careless, reckless and unlawful manner. 

By employing, training and entrusting Hardison in operating one of their trucks - the trucking company itself is also responsible for Tricia Tigue's death.

Chase went on to state that, "Interstate transport companies, such as Deep Water, have a strict duty and legal obligation to the nation's motoring public to ensure the drivers of their trucks abide by traffic laws to avoid causing serious car accidents on today's roadways. If transport companies fail to do this, then they are just as liable as the drivers they employ."

The trial is set for January 25, 2011 and seeks damages for wrongful death, loss of consortium, court costs, as well as funeral and burial expenses.

If you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death, click here for a qualified attorney that can advise you of your rights.