Lawsuit blames Marine Corps in fatal ether-related car accident

By Jim Greene

Published on May 08, 2006

Lucas Borges was convicted in June 2005 of second-degree murder, driving while impaired, and assault with a deadly weapon for causing a head-on collision Nov. 3, 2004 near Camp Lejeune, where he was then stationed. Borges' Camaro was traveling east in the west-bound lane of a state highway when it struck a PT Cruiser. A passenger in the PT Cruiser, Jamie Lumsden, 19, was killed. The car's driver, William Wilson, and passengers Melanie Ritter, Candice Lee, and Mark Clark all were injured.

In the lawsuit, filed on behalf of the injured parties and William Lumsden, Jamie's father, alleges the Marine Corps had previously found Borges inhaling ether in his car in a remote area of the Marine base. According to the suit, there were several ether cylinders in the car and Borges was confined to a base infirmary for observation after threatening to commit suicide. The suit claims this was ample evidence that the Marine Corps had a responsibility to deny Borges access to ether, and that its failure to do so led to the head-on crash.

Each of the plaintiffs in asking for damages in excess of $10,000.

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