A man has been ordered to pay $50,000 to the families of two teenagers that were killed, and one that was injured, two years ago in a car accident, as the man had chased them down with his own vehicle prior to the crash, as reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press.
K.L. was named as responsible for the deaths of R.R. and D.A., and for injuring J.D., in the September 12, 2010 accident near Twin Falls. All three teenagers were students at College of Southern Idaho at the time of the crash.
The suit was settled exactly two years after the accident, on September 12, 2012, in Twin Falls County 5th District Court.
The $50,000 settlement amount, divided amongst the three parties, was the cap allowed under K.L.'s insurance company.
P.A., D.A.'s mother, said, "The only way we were going to be able to hold (K.L.) accountable was civilly. The criminal justice system failed."
K.L. received 180-day sentence – 160 days were suspended – for entering a guilty plea to reckless driving this past January.
K.L. admitted to chasing down the three teens, shortly after 1 a.m., after they had left a party they had attended at K.L.'s home. K.L. believed that the teens were guilty of stealing an item from his home.
K.L., and three of his friends, piled into his pickup in an attempt to catch up to the teenagers.
According to the attorney representing D.A.'s family, Bruce Owens, the three men that accompanied K.L., later identified as R.B., C.R. and N.R., are not named in the lawsuit. Owens said that all three men were without insurance and he has no plans to file a new suit against them.
R.R.'s mother, L.W., agrees with Owen, on the matter of not filing any further lawsuits and said, "I don't see that happening. I really feel we have pursued this in every way." L.W. said that the suit was not about money, but rather, about holding K.L. accountable for his actions.
L.W. said, "I guess in a way I feel like I failed. The ones who should have been held accountable were not. I know my son has fault in this as well ... But I truly believe he was not the only one who has fault in this thing."
R.R. drove up to 100 mph, according to accident reports, just before the crash, and his blood alcohol level was above the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent.
Attorney Ken Hawkins represented K.L. in the suit. He refused to comment to the press regarding the settlement.
The families had desired a more serious charge against K.L. and a swifter outcome. P.A. commented, "Every turn, it's been frustrating…All (L.W.) and I were trying to do - both families - was hold those kids accountable."
The prosecutor stated that evidence showed that K.L. stopped chasing the teenagers before the fatal crash.
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