The family of a couple and their baby who died in a crash on Interstate 71 in Delaware County is suing the tractor-trailer driver charged in the crash.
Lynnea Soposki, her husband, Luke, and the couple’s 1-year-old son, Logan, died in the April 21 crash. Nine vehicles were involved in the crash near the U.S. 36/Route 37 interchange, and three more people were injured.
Modou Ngom, 50, was driving a 2006 Freightliner tractor-trailer and did not brake or attempt any evasive actions before rear-ending the Soposki family’s Chevrolet Silverado, prosecutors allege in court documents. The impact pushed the pickup truck into other vehicles and across multiple lanes of traffic.
The Soposki family filed a wrongful death lawsuit May 21 on behalf of the estates of Luke, Lynnea and Logan. The complaint alleges that Ngom’s negligence caused their deaths, and he “failed to be alert and pay attention to the road” as he approached slowed traffic.
A Delaware County grand jury indicted Ngom on April 16 on three charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and four charges of vehicular assault. He pleaded not guilty and remains at the Delaware County Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.
Ngom was the sole driver for his trucking company, M F W Carrier. His company is also named in the Soposki family’s lawsuit.
Inspection records reviewed by The Dispatch showed that just hours before the crash, inspectors identified an air brake violation and placed the vehicle out of service.
Weeks earlier, on March 25, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records show Ngom was cited for a malfunctioning antilock braking system malfunction. Those brake system issues were not mentioned in the Soposki family’s lawsuit.
Another driver injured in the crash, Alyssa Harris, of Galena, filed a personal injury lawsuit against Ngom and his company April 24. Her attorney, Mark Kitrick, said Harris suffered serious injuries to her left leg and narrowly escaped her burning vehicle.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Family of I-71 crash victims files wrongful death suit against driver
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
