
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994                   TAG: 9410030036
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SUIT FILED IN REST-AREA DEATH

Two drivers for a New Jersey trucking company have been sued by the estate of Kathy Williams, the Radford woman who was killed in August when her tow truck was sandwiched between two tractor-trailers at an Interstate 81 rest area.

The suit, filed Friday in Montgomery County Circuit Court on behalf of Williams' estate, names Jose Estrella, Melvin Vargas and Dynamic Express as defendants.

The $25 million lawsuit accuses the two drivers of recklessness and negligence leading to Williams' death. Any damages awarded as a result of the suit would go to her children, Candace Williams, 8, and Alton "Trey" Williams, 6.

Williams was owner-operator of East Side Chevron in Radford. She was killed Aug. 16 while answering a service call at the Ironto rest area near mile marker 129.

State police said Estrella, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y., had started to enter the lane for passenger cars when he realized his mistake and stopped. Williams stopped her tow truck behind Estrella. Moments later, her truck was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer driven by Vargas, 22, of Hialeah, Fla. Police said Vargas was driving an estimated 40 mph. The posted speed limit is 25 mph for the rest-area lanes,.

The tow truck was crushed between the two tractor-trailers and burst into flames. Williams died in the collision and accompanying explosion that likely started from gasoline in her truck, police said.

Vargas was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Estrella was charged with reckless driving. They are to appear Oct. 17 in Montgomery County General District Court.

The lawsuit - filed by lawyers Jimmy Turk and Ed Stone of Radford and James Hartley of Giles County - asks for $15 million in compensatory damages from the two drivers and the company, and $10 million in punitive damages from the company and Vargas.

First National Bank of Christiansburg is the administrator of Williams' estate.

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB