Parents of girls injured in Panama City Beach golf cart crash sue the driver, accused of DUI
PANAMA CITY BEACH — The parents of two teenage girls who were seriously injured while driving a golf cart earlier this month have sued the other driver, a 61-year-old man who faces DUI charges.
On Feb. 4, two girls, ages 15 and 16, were driving a golf cart in Panama City Beach's Bay Point neighborhood when they were struck head-on by Stanley Barker, 61, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened in the roadway in front of 332 Wahoo Road.
When troopers arrived, the girls were unconscious with serious injuries. The were taken to the hospital.
The report said Barker was walking near the scene and attempting to leave when a trooper placed him in a patrol car. Troopers performed sobriety tests on Barker and ran a breathalyzer. The results led them to charge Barker with DUI causing serious bodily injury.
After the incident, one of the girls had to go to Alabama for treatment of her injuries. Friends of the families set up GoFundMe accounts to help pay medical bills. Both the teens are in good condition but still receiving medical treatment, according to updates from the families shared to local Facebook groups.
Represented by lawyers from the Perry & Young, the parents of both girls are seeking damages in excess of $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs, according to an initial complaint in court documents from the Bay County Clerk of Court.
In summary, the complaint claims that Barker was negligently operating his vehicle while under the influence. It says both girls experienced serious and debilitating bodily injuries and that resulting losses are either permanent or continuing.
Barker is currently facing two charges of DUI causing serious bodily injury and one charge of leaving scene of a crash with serious injury, according to court documents. The case docket indicates he entered a written plea of not guilty.
According to the report from the FHP attached to the case docket, Barker told troopers he had cancer and was recovering from kidney surgery at the time of the crash.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Parents sue man charged with DUI in PCB crash that injured teen girls
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