Kansas Man Sues Trucking Firm, Driver Over Crash That Killed Wife, 4 Children

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A Kansas man is suing a over a crash that killed his wife, three of his children and his stepdaughter.

Jeffrey Williams, of Viola, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against Andrew Specht and his employer, Wellington-based L.B. White Trucking Inc., The Wichita Eagle reports.

The suit alleges that Specht was driving a tractor-trailer loaded with grain at a “reckless speed” on Sept. 25 when he ran a stop sign and slammed into the sport utility vehicle in which Williams’ family was riding in southwest Sedgwick County. The impact instantly killed 32-year-old Jessica Noel, 10-year-old Anaiah Brady, 4-year-old Jeffrey Thompson III and 4-month-old Hank Thompson. A fourth child, 23-month-old Mack Thompson, died later at a hospital.

The paternal grandparents of Anaiah Brady, whose biological father died in 2012, also have filed their own wrongful death lawsuit.

The Eagle was unable to reach Specht by phone or Facebook messages. The trucking company’s owner, Ronald White, previously called the crash “a tragedy” but hasn’t commented on the lawsuits.

Williams’ attorney, Joseph Fried, said in an email that Williams is “fighting to just breathe right now and be the best father he can be for his sole surviving daughter.” He said the family’s dog also died in the crash.