Sons of pedestrian killed in 2013 crash file wrongful death suit

The sons of a pedestrian who died after being hit by a car in 2013 have filed a wrongful death suit against the car's driver and owner.

Luther Allen Wright, 61, was walking along Magnolia Drive, in front of his home, about 7 a.m. Oct. 23, 2013, when he was struck from behind by a Honda CR-V driven by 37-year-old Tyrone Lamar Howard, according to the lawsuit filed last month in Bibb County State Court.

The suit, filed by Wright's sons, names Howard and the car's owner as defendants. Attempts to reach Howard last week were unsuccessful.

Wright had been walking down the street, likely picking up cans for recycling, said Wesley Starrett, one of two Douglasville lawyers representing Wright's sons in the suit.

Howard didn't call the police or try to help Wright, Starrett said.

"I guess the defendant was more concerned about the fact that he was driving unlawfully without a valid license than he was rendering care to a person he just struck," Starrett said.

Wright's sons allege that Howard "stuffed" Wright into the car and drove to meet his girlfriend, the car's owner, according to the suit.

The couple "concocted a story," made plans to mislead authorities and "dumped" Wright at a local hospital, the suit alleges.

Wright died four days later.

Initially, Howard "staged his girlfriend" as the driver, but a subsequent police investigation showed he was lying, according to a Macon police accident report.

Howard told police his windshield was fogged as he drove south on Magnolia Drive, near Trinity Place, just before 7 a.m., according to the report.

He said his wipers were on and he could only see about a car length ahead.

Once he saw Wright in the road, it was too late, he reportedly told police.

Howard told police he picked up his girlfriend before calling 911 because he was afraid he'd go to jail for driving on a suspended license, according to the report.

Howard told police he slammed on his brakes. The police report showed 47 feet of skids on the road.

The report also shows that Howard was cited for driving on a suspended license and hindering an investigation.

Wright's sons allege that Howard and his girlfriend were negligent and are liable for their father's death.

They are requesting compensation for Wright's life, damages for physical and mental suffering, medical and funeral expenses, and punitive damages.

The case still is being investigated by the Bibb County District Attorney's Office. No charges have been filed.

Starrett said he and his clients have been in contact with prosecutors.

"We are cooperating with them in any way we can," he said.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398 or find her on Twitter@awomackmacon.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Sons of pedestrian killed in 2013 crash file wrongful death suit ."