Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino sued for Fatal Roll-Over Charter Bus Accident
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
Survivors and family members of deceased persons injured and killed at a May 14, 2016 Charter Bus rollover accident on U.S. Highway 83 in northern Webb County, Texas have amended their original lawsuit to include the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino owned by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas of Eagle Pass, Texas.
McAllen, Texas attorney, John David Franz, amended his clients original petition to add three new defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit, including the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, the charter tour coordinator, Elvia Estrada, and the charter bus driver, Porfirio Aguirre. Originally, Franz had only sued the charter bus company, OGA Charter Bus Company.
The amended petition alleges that the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is vicariously liable for the wrongful deaths and injuries sustained by passengers in the charter bus.
Eight people died and 44 people were injured at the tragic May 14, 2016 charter bus rollover accident on U.S. Highway 83 in northern Webb County near the Dimmit County, Texas boundary. Later, a ninth person died from their injuries arising in the rollover accident.
The fatal accident was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board from Washington, D. C. and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The lead investigator of the accident is Pete Kotoswki of the National Transportation Safety Board from Washington, D.C..
Preliminary reports indicate that the charter bus driver, Porfirio Aguirre, lost control of the bus, causing the bus to roll-over.
At least seven persons or family members of the deceased and injured in the rollover accident have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino. Many more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the near future.
The lawsuit was filed in McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas, where many of the deceased or injured persons reside(d) in.
Legal experts stated that damages in the wrongful death lawsuit filed in McAllen, Texas may be in the millions. The parties will undergo a discovery process to determine the facts and causes of the fatal charter bus rollover accident before going to trial or settling the lawsuit.
Among the persons killed in the May 14, 2016 charter bus rollover accident include Altagracia Torres, age 61; Maria de Jesus Musquiz, age 52; Dora Nelly Gonzalez, age 68; Frances Guerrero, age 52; Marisela Lopez, age 60; Adlefa Garza, age 63; Emma Rodriguez Zamudio, age 81; and Jaime Navarro, age 60.
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Council issued a press release expressing their deepest condolences and sympathies to the family members of those who passed away in the accident and wished all the survivors a speedy and full recovery from their injuries.
