Last May, a Hilbert man crashed into 10 motorcyclists after allegedly crossing the centerline. Two of the motorcyclists who were struck were killed, and eight others were faced with serious personal injury. While their injuries ranged in severity, one of the motorcyclists lost his leg, and both he and one other were placed on life support.

Hospital liens for medical expenses totaling more than $400,000 have been placed on the man and his aunt, who was the owner of the vehicle that he was driving. More than one civil suit has been filed by the victims of this event and their insurance companies against several defendants, including the Hilbert man.

In addition to the civil suits, the man also faces felony charges for recklessly endangering the safety of others, homicide and injury caused by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and bail jumping. Despite the driver’s claims of amnesia and his lawyer’s challenges to the admissibility of certain evidence, the man has been judged competent to stand trial.

Drunk driving is a serious offense, and in this case, the results were catastrophic. The pain and suffering that the victims have been faced with is extreme and may haunt them and their loved ones for the rest of their lives. While nothing will ever compensate for the loss of life and serious injuries that the victims have endured, if their civil cases are won, it may help to provide some closure to this painful chapter of their lives.

Source: thenorthwestern.com, “Multiple civil suits filed in cycle crash,” Sharon Roznik, Dec. 27, 2012