Auto Accident Lawsuits Filed against Drunk Driver and Father

By Heather Siladi

Published on December 19, 2006

Corey Peters, age 26, has three prior DUI convictions. His license was under suspension at the time of the accident, and he is charged with driving while intoxicated. The lawsuits allege that Peters was driving drunk and speeding on the wrong side of the road as he attempted to evade police from a previous accident.

His father, James Woodrow Peters, is accused of providing Corey Peters with the pickup truck.

Police maintained that moments before the accident with the Barrick family, a deputy had discovered Peters’ truck just after he had received word of a previous hit-and-run on a nearby road. The victim of that accident had called police and followed Peters to the intersection.

Peters was unresponsive and slumped over the steering wheel. The deputy was unable to turn off the truck’s engine, but shifted the vehicle into park and depressed the emergency brake.

Peters awoke, and was asked by the deputy to turn off the vehicle, but when the deputy turned to speak with the victim, Peters sped away.

When the officer caught up with the truck, it had already crashed into the Barrick’s minivan, severely injuring Andy and Linda, their 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and 11-year-old son, Josh.

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