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Driver sued in fatalities

Families of teens killed in Culpeper crash last April file suit against driver

By DONNIE JOHNSTON

Date published: 3/20/2004

Civil suits totaling $7 million have been filed against the 18-year-old Culpeper man who was driving a car that crashed and killed two teenagers last April.

The family of 15-year-old Vickie Lynn Myers has filed a two-count suit alleging that John Patrick Walsh Jr. was careless, reckless and negligent in actions that led to the April 21 crash on State Route 729. The second count alleges gross negligence in that excessive speed was a primary factor in the accident.

The Myers family is seeking $3.5 million in damages.

Mary Parvin, mother of Joseph R. Parvin Jr., the other teenager killed in the crash, has filed a three-count suit asking for $3.5 million in damages plus legal fees.

The first count alleges negligence by Walsh.

The second claims negligent entrustment on the part of his father, Patrick Walsh Sr. It alleges that the father "either knew or had reasonable cause to know that his son was an unfit driver."

The third count claims joint negligence by the father and son.

Walsh Jr. was convicted of reckless driving and driving on a revoked license in November and sentenced to two years in jail plus a $2,500 fine on each count. One year was suspended on each conviction.

He was originally charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, but those were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Myers and Parvin, 18, were sitting in the luggage compartment of the Honda CRX when it crashed. Both were thrown from the vehicle. Myers died at the scene, while Parvin was pronounced dead at University of Virginia Hospital a few hours later.

Walsh Jr. is now serving time in the Culpeper County Jail, but could be eligible for parole by early May.

To reach DONNIE JOHNSTON: DJohn40330@aol.com

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Date published: 3/20/2004