The family of an Oklahoma police officer killed when a truck struck the motorcycle he was riding while on duty is suing the driver and his employer.
The wrongful death lawsuit, dated last Friday, on behalf of Edmond Officer C.J. Nelson by his estate and his widow, Jenefer Nelson, seeks at least $100,000 in actual and punitive damages each from Jay Stephen Fite, 54, and Coontz Roofing Inc.
Fite remains jailed after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder or first-degree manslaughter, both felonies punishable by up to life in prison.
Coontz Roofing officials did not return a phone call Wednesday for comment.
Oklahoma City police have said Nelson died July 19 when a pickup truck Fite was driving crashed into the police motorcycle he was on at a stop light in north Oklahoma City, just outside the Edmond city limits.
Police Sgt. Gary Knight says blood tests found Fite had methamphetamine and amphetamines in his system. Fite also smelled of alcohol but denied having been drinking, according to a police affidavit.
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