According to the Associated Press, a lawyer for a van driver at a girl’s home in Alabama announced a federal lawsuit against two trucking companies and a driver who was involved in a car accident on June 19, resulting in 10 deaths, of which Including 8 children.
Candice Gulley, director of Tallapsa County Girls Ranch, lost his two children and two nephews in a van in a fiery crash on Interstate 65. For Asmat Express, she described how she tried to rescue children between the ages of 3 and 17 from a burning vehicle. A man in Tennessee and his daughter were killed in another car in the collision.
“All the children were burned to death by the fire,” the lawsuit filed on Friday said.
Gulley’s lawyer Greg Allen said the accident “should not happen.”
The lawsuit announced on Monday alleges that when Gulley was driving in the left lane of the interstate, Hansen & Adkins did not stop in traffic, crashed into a sports utility vehicle and entered her lane. Then, her vehicle was hit from behind by an Asmat Express vehicle.
For more reports from the Associated Press, please see below.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The federal lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount tells the story of Gulli desperately trying to rescue the victim from the wreckage.
The lawsuit alleges that Gulley was pulled from the crumpled van by others and ran around trying to help the children escape the burning vehicle, but due to the flames and damage, no one could be rescued.
The lawsuit alleges that Gulli suffered burns, bruises, and severe emotional and mental distress. During the crash, the remnants of the tropical storm passed through the area on June 19.
Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport in California and Asmat Express in Clarkston, Georgia have been identified as involved in the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). It also named an Asmat driver named Mamuye Ayane Takelu.
Although Hansen & Adkins declined to comment on the details of the crash, Asmat has not yet responded to messages seeking comment. Neither the company nor the driver responded immediately in court.
In addition to Gulley and Tommy Gulley, the husband who lost two children, the plaintiff also included the parents or personal representatives of four other children who were killed in the van.
The lawsuit alleges that the truck was not equipped with anti-collision safety technology and the driver was driving too fast, distracted or following too close.
Allen said in a statement issued by the Montgomery Beasley Allen law firm: “We cannot erase or change the catastrophic results, but we can work hard to provide answers so that the court can allow the defendants to destroy their lives. Responsible.”
An NTSB preliminary report described a crash similar to the lawsuit, but did not attribute or explain the cause of the crash, which occurred approximately 35 miles south of Montgomery.
