| Virginia County Sued for Negligent Hiring The family of a McKenney, VA woman killed last summer in an ambulance crash has filed a $13 million lawsuit against Dinwiddie County and four county employees, including the ambulance driver. A 64-year-old woman was killed while being transported to the hospital in a Dinwiddie County Rescue Squad ambulance. The vehicle was traveling on Interstate 85 when it veered off the roadway and struck a concrete abutment, police said. The woman died from injuries sustained during the crash, according to the state medical examiner. Her estate, including 13 children and more than 30 grandchildren, filed a suit for $13 million in compensatory damages in Petersburg Circuit Court. The suit was filed against Dinwiddie County and several county employees. Among those sued is the Dinwiddie director of public safety and a county human resources official. The family's attorney said the employees are included in the suit because of their roles in the hiring and retaining of the ambulance driver. His driving record includes: Four automobile accidents between 1994-2001. Conviction in September 1994 for driving while impaired by intoxicating liquors or drugs. Convictions in 1987, 1992, 1993 and 1995 of driving with no operator's license or while his license was revoked. Convicted in March 2003 of driving 13 miles over speed limit in Brunswick County and in April 2003 of reckless driving in Dinwiddie County. The county employees were careless, reckless and negligent in hiring and retaining someone with such a driving record to operate a rescue vehicle, the suit states. "It takes a person with good judgment to do this, and his background indicates this is sorely lacking," said the attorney for the family. |
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