Yahoo Autos Fatal Dodge Challenger Test Drive Crash Results In Lawsuit
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A 37-year-old man named Benjamin Meece has been sued by the family of a woman killed in a crash while Meece was test driving a Dodge Challenger. While many people focus on criminal charges associated with street racing and driving recklessly, this case highlights how you might face civil penalties that drain your finances as well.
A sheriff in California keeps getting pulled over for speeding.
The fatal crash happened back on June 7 in Odessa Texas as Meece drove the Mopar muscle car with a salesman from All American Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Odessa. The dealership and salesman are also listed as a defendants, reports NewsWest 9.
According to black box data from the Challenger, it hit speeds upwards of 124 mph during the test drive. That’s absolutely insane.
When the muscle car entered an intersection at East University Drive and Oakwood Drive, it slammed into the victim’s Honda Accord. 47-year-old Quma Martinez Carrillo was ejected from the car.
Reportedly, Meece ran away from the crash on foot, but police caught him. Now he’s facing four felony charges. It’s not the man’s first brush with the law, according to the lawsuit filing NewsWest 9 cites, which claims the man has a lengthy criminal history.
We’re wondering if this case might result in car dealerships running a soft background check on top of copying your driver’s license before you can go for a test drive. With how dealerships sell cars in a period of transformation, it might soon be a reality that you have to apply to go for a test drive and there’s at least a slight waiting period.
We also wonder what the salesman said and did during the high-speed test drive. Surely that’s a subject of discovery in the lawsuit, or will be. We know it’s not uncommon for dealership employees to be okay with customers speeding since some of them go joyriding in vehicles themselves.
Image via NewsWest 9
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