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Injured woman sues van driver for Fourth of July RV park crash By Nick Morgan Updated: Dec 23, 2022 05:58 PM A A An injured White City woman’s lawsuit alleges the van driver “knew that he suffered from type 2 diabetes, for which he did not take any medication,” and that he ingested marijuana on July 4 leading up to the crash at a Curry County RV park. [Curry County Sheriff’s Office photo] A Southern Oregon woman who was paralyzed and lost her best friend after a driver passed out behind the wheel at a Curry County RV park is suing the van driver who lost consciousness. Rebecca Williams is suing driver Paul Armenta for the July 4 crash at Beachfront RV Park in Brookings-Harbor that left her paralyzed from below the elbow and with numerous broken bones, alleging that Armenta was negligent for leaving a medical condition unmanaged and getting behind the wheel impaired. Williams’ civil lawsuit filed in Curry County Circuit Court alleges that Armenta “knew that he suffered from type 2 diabetes, for which he did not take any medication,” and had ingested marijuana July 4 leading up to the crash while he was behind the wheel of a full-size van that ultimately killed Hiedei Bailey of White City and severely injured Williams. “He felt dizzy and nauseated, then chose to drive his 2020 Ford T-250 Transit van to the Beachfront RV Park,” Williams’ lawsuit, written with help of Portland injury lawyer Josh Lamborn, states. As of Friday, Armenta had not yet responded to the allegations of the lawsuit. Court records show Williams filed the lawsuit Oct. 31, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office successfully served a subpoena on Armenta in Brookings Nov. 28. The van drove through the campsite at an estimated 20 to 30 mph, according to the suit. At 2:23 p.m. the van struck a picnic table where Williams and two others were seated, “and continued on into two RVs parked at the campsite, where it came to rest,” according to the lawsuit. Stories of the crash while the women and their families were vacationing was among the Mail Tribune’s most-read stories of the year, and triggered an outpouring of financial support. A GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign covering William’s extensive recovery raised $16,856 , and a separate campaign benefiting Bailey’s daughter raised $4,846 as of Friday. Williams’ lawsuit sheds new details about the extent of her injuries, and of the crash. It alleges Armenta was negligent in eight specific ways: for failing to keep a proper lookout, for driving too fast under the circumstances, for failing to maintain control of the van, for failing to drive within the designated driving lane, for driving under the influence of marijuana, for failing to manage his health condition with medication, for failing to monitor his health condition before driving and for “choosing to ignore adverse health symptoms prior to driving a motor vehicle.” Armenta was never charged with a crime, Curry County Circuit Court records show. Williams was paralyzed below her elbow and sustained numerous injuries in the crash such as a broken pelvis, leg injuries, organ damage and “at least 15 broken ribs.” Williams’ lawsuit states many of her injures are believed to be permanent and will impact her ability to make a living. It seeks non-economic damages factoring her impacts to gainful employment and pain and suffering at $2.5 million. Economic damages related to her medical treatment are listed as an amount “not to exceed $500,000,” according to the suit. The lawsuit claims that at the time of the crash, Armenta was working for an improperly registered company based out of California known as Demand Surf and Skate, “which was unlawfully conducting regular and sustained business” in Curry County at the time. The company is not listed in the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office’s business registry. Williams’ lawsuit seeks $500 against the company, alleging failure to register a business. Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.