Document text
77 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, June 10, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Britt Festival Medford Cruise Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 9, 2005 Victim’s family sues teen’s estate Complaint seeks $5.5 million from Thatcher-Stephens’ estate for the Feb. 11 double-fatal crash By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The family of a Shady Cove man killed in a high-speed wreck is seeking $5.5 million from the estate of the teen who they claim caused the crash. Filed by the estate of Charles Ashley Bench, the lawsuit alleges that Kevan Thatcher-Stephens, 17, negligently caused Bench’s death on Feb. 11 by driving 90 to 100 mph on Riverside Avenue, driving while intoxicated and failing to obey a traffic control device, according to the suit in Jackson County Circuit Court. Thatcher-Stephens and Bench, 26, of Shady Cove, were killed when the teen ran a red light at Riverside and Jackson Street, smashing into Bench’s vehicle. The teen also was negligent in "planning to provoke a chase ... to elude police officers in pursuit of his vehicle when he should have known this action would be likely to cause a collision such as that which killed Charles Bench," Medford attorney Michael Brian wrote in the complaint. The suit does not name Thatcher-Stephens’ parents as defendants, only the teen’s estate. Brian said he plans to look at whether there are other people legally responsible for the wreck. Advertisement Because Thatcher-Stephens did not have enough insurance, Bench’s wife is also suing their own insurance company, Geico, which provided underinsured motorist coverage, Brian said. However, Geico has so far refused to pay, Brian alleges. Filed in March, the suit originally named Geico; an amendment filed Tuesday named Thatcher-Stephens as a defendant. Thatcher-Stephens was insured by Viking, a company for high-risk drivers that only provides minimum coverage, Brian said. The company will likely pay Bench’s widow between $25,000 and $50,000, he said. "It’s not enough," Brian said. "It’s a little bitty policy." Thatcher-Stephens’ parents have announced their own intention to sue. James Stephens and Patrice Thatcher served the county and the city of Talent with a tort claim notice last month alleging police officers’ unreasonable pursuit of their son, causing his death. Grand jurors in April cleared Sheriff’s Capt. Joe Puckett and Talent officer Jeff Price of any criminal wrongdoing when they pursued Thatcher-Stephens. Puckett remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Sheriff Mike Winters said Wednesday. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Crash investigation comes to a close The nearly five-month investigation into a fatal crash involving an intoxicated Ashland teenager is expected to conclude today with criminal charges being filed. Detectives with the Medford Police Department will announce the findings of their probe into who gave 17-year-old Kevan Thatcher-Stephens alcohol. Some criminal charges are expected to result, said Medford police Lt. Tim George. Thatcher-Stephens killed himself and 26-year-old Charles Ashley Bench, of Shady Cove, after running a red light the evening of Feb. 11 at Riverside Avenue and Jackson Street in downtown Medford. Two police officers had pursued Thatcher-Stephens — who was driving at speeds of 90 to 100 mph — on Riverside. The investigation stalled because some teenage witnesses refused to talk to police until subpoenaed to appear before a Jackson County grand jury in April, officials said. The teen’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was at least .13 percent, authorities said. Oregon’s legal limit for those of drinking age is .08. Thatcher-Stephens, who had a suspended license, had been cited in the past for speeding and careless driving. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Air Purifiers Advertisement s