Family of Indian killed in US crash files lawsuit

Washington, March 20
The family of an Indian man who was killed after being hit by a truck in the US nearly two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the vehicle's driver and owner, a media report said.

Rajendrakumar Shah, who was in the US to attend a wedding and to visit his family in Cook County in Illinois, died on June 6, 2013 - his 61st birthday - after being hit by a truck while crossing a street, The Chicago Sun Times reported on Thursday.

Shah subsequently died in hospital. An autopsy ruled that his death was an accident.

Nimisha Shah, who was appointed the administrator of Shah's estate, filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful death on Thursday in the Cook county circuit court against the 23-year-old driver of the truck, Michael T. Epley, who was charged in connection with the hit-and-run case and the woman who owned the truck.

Epley was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, and failure to stop after causing an accident involving personal injury or death, according to police. He was also cited for various traffic offences.

Epley was ordered to be held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 17.

The suit alleges that Epley was driving a Ford F-150 truck at the time of the crash and was negligent when the truck struck Shah.

Epley failed to keep a proper lookout for a pedestrian, operated his vehicle at an excessive rate of speed, failed to sound his horn before the crash, and among other things, failed to render aid to the injured party, according to the suit.

Shah is survived by his wife and three children, the suit said.

The two-count suit seeks an undisclosed amount in damages.