Lawsuit filed against driver in Union car crash
02/09/06
by Gainesville.com
Lise Fisher

The mother of two of seven children killed last month in a fiery accident in Union County has filed a lawsuit against the trucking company and semi driver involved in the crash.

Amanda Lee Scott is suing Nebraska-based Crete Carrier Corp. and the tractor-trailer's driver, Alvin E. Wilkerson of Jacksonville, over the deaths of her daughters, Ashley Keen, 14, and Miranda Finn, 10, the lawsuit states.

"She wants us to file the lawsuit to get some answers to find out how and why this happened," said attorney Mark Avera Wednesday. The Gainesville law firm of Avera & Smith is representing Scott with Lance Avera listed as the lead attorney.

Wilkerson had been awake more than 34 hours before the crash, according to initial findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the accident.

The lawsuit alleges Wilkerson and the trucking company were both negligent in the crash - Wilkerson for violating regulations about how long he could operate the truck without a break, and the company for failing to adequately supervise its driver.

On Jan. 25, Ashley Keen and Miranda Finn were riding in a car that had stopped behind a school bus on State Road 121, south of Lake Butler. The tractor-trailer struck the car from the rear, crushing it and causing it to burst into flames. Also killed were the car's driver, Cynthia Nicole "Nikki" Mann, 15, and Elizabeth Mann, 15, Johnny Mann, 13, Heaven Mann, 3, and Anthony Lamb, 20 months.

Lise Fisher can be reached at (352) 374-5092 or fisherl@gvillesun.com.