$3 million lawsuit filed in fatal Ringgold accident

From staff reports
Published: May 15, 2008

The mother of a teen passenger killed in a 2006 automobile accident in Pittsylvania County has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the driver’s estate.
Daniel A. Lewis, 16, was riding in a pick up truck driven by James L. Hollie on June 10, 2006, when the truck ran off the road and struck a utility pole along Route 723 near Route 1714 in Ringgold, according to the Virginia State Police. Lewis died as a result of the crash.
Wendy B. Lewis, administrator of the teenager’s estate, contends that Hollie “carelessly, negligently and recklessly” operated his vehicle. Lewis also alleges that Hollie, who also died in the crash, failed to keep his vehicle under proper control.
“The careless, reckless and negligent conduct of the defendant’s decedent was the sole proximate cause of the death of plaintiff’s decedent,” Lewis states in the lawsuit.
Lewis states that she and her son’s father, Thomas L. Lewis, have suffered financial and pecuniary loss and mental anguish since Daniel’s death.
Lewis has demanded a jury trial.  Lee H. Turpin, administrator of Hollie’s estate, is the defendant in the case. She became the estate’s administrator on April 11.
An attempt to reach Turpin on Thursday afternoon was unsuccessful.