Teen driver sued by Washington family over death of son in car crash

By Jim Greene

Published on October 27, 2005

Michael Trotter, 22, died in a Seattle hospital June 10, after being airlifted from the crash site near Olympia. His car was struck by that of Sierra Shoopman, 16, was driving with a two-day-old restricted driver's license.

According to the suit, Shoopman, whose car was split in half by the collision, was negligent for driving too fast, losing control, and failing to avoid the collision. The suit alleges her speed was over 65 mph on a road with a posted limit of 40 mph. She also faces a criminal charge of vehicular homicide, which is applied for cases in which the defendant is accused of driving recklessly or with disregard for the safety of others. As a teenager, conviction carries a sentence of 15 to 36 weeks with the state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

Shoopman was in violation of the conditions of her restricted driver's license at the time of the collision, since she had another teenager as a passenger in her car.

The lawsuit was filed in Thurston County Superior Court by the victim's parents, James and Lynn Trotter, on behalf of their son's estate, and seeks compensation for medical costs, attorney costs, and pain and suffering.

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