Relatives File Suit After Fatal Crash With County Vehicle

A woman and the parents of a recently deceased 25-year-old man have filed suit against Jefferson County, Texas and one of its employees, claiming the man died of the personal injuries he suffered in a collision.

The suit was filed in Jefferson County District Court on April 7 by Scarlet Snider, the administrator of Nicholas Bryan Burton’s estate, and Brian and Sheila Burton.

The suit says that as Burton was crossing a highway on foot, he was struck by a vehicle driven by Jonta Miller, who was working for the county and driving a vehicle owned by the county at the time of the incident. Burton died later that day.

Burton’s parents claim that their son’s death caused them to lose his affection, companionship, comfort, and solace, the parent-child relationship, and care maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel, and contributions.

Snider claims Burton’s death caused her to incur medical, funeral, and burial expenses.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of Miller for failure to maintain a proper lookout, driving a vehicle at an unsafe time, failure to brake, failure to take evasive action, failure to maintain proper control of the vehicle, failure to stay in his lane, changing lanes at an unsafe time, driving at an excessive speed, failure to avoid a collision with a pedestrian, and driving without regard for the safety of others.

The suit claims Jefferson County is also liable because Miller was working for the county at the time of the incident.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages.