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Single-car crash leaves high school athlete dead, teammate hurt

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2011 | Wrongful Death |

A fatal car accident in the Houston area has left one standout high school athlete dead and another possibly liable for a wrongful death. Details on the crash are scarce so far, but the student who survived the single-car accident was driving at the time. The crash is another reminder that car accidents can happen at any time if drivers are not adequately prepared for them.

The victim, a junior at Cinco Ranch High School, which is just outside of Houston in Katy, Texas, was riding with a teammate at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 when the accident occurred.

According to a spokesman for the high school, the teammate lost control of the vehicle, which then hit a tree. The teammate was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy, and he fortunately only sustained minor injuries. The victim, however, was flown to the same hospital, where he died.

The victim was a star for his high school’s basketball team, where he was the second-leading scorer.

As more details trickle out about the accident, police will likely decide whether or not filing any charges is necessary. But regardless of whether or not any criminal charges are filed, the victim’s family will likely want to hold any responsible parties accountable for the teen’s death.

In Texas, the victim’s family can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, likely against the driver’s family depending on his age, which seeks monetary damages for negligent or reckless conduct. The victim’s family should not be left to mourn while also having to pay for medical and funeral expenses that were accrued through no fault of the victim.

Source: Houston Chronicle, “Cinco Ranch basketball standout Chris Saiz killed in car accident,” Jenny Dial, Dec. 21, 2011

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