The estate of MTV reality star Ryan Dunn is being sued by the parents of the man who was killed after Dunn crashed the car he was driving.
In June 2011, Dunn and a friend were drinking at a bar in West Chester. The two left the bar and Dunn got behind the wheel. Reportedly, Dunn drove his Porsche at speeds over 130 mph. The 34-year-old then drove off the Route 322 bypass and crashed the car into a tree, which caused it to catch on fire. Both Dunn and the 30-year-old passenger were killed in the accident. The police reported they both “died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.”
The two were in West Goshen Township in Chester County when the accident took place.
According to The Washington Post, Dunn’s blood alcohol content was 0.196 when the accident occurred, over twice the legal limit of 0.8 in Pennsylvania.
The passenger’s parents have sued Dunn’s estate and the owner of the bar where the two had been drinking, Barnaby’s West Chester, Inc. The lawsuit contends the bar acted negligently by continuing to serve Dunn drinks when he was obviously intoxicated. The manager of the bar claims Dunn was not noticeably drunk when he left the bar that evening.
The wrongful death suit against Dunn’s estate contends he acted negligently and recklessly, by driving at excessive speeds and while under the influence of alcohol.
While the amount of damages sought is unknown, the parents of the victim could seek an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the funeral and lost wages the deceased could have earned during his lifetime.
Source: Huffington Post, “Ryan Dunn Lawsuit: ‘Jackass’ Star’s Estate Sued By Parents of Dead Passenger,” August 10, 2012.
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