PETERSBURG – The Estate of Molly Parks filed a Wrongful Death claim in Petersburg Superior Court on May 18 against the Petersburg Borough and the driver of the Parks and Rec. van, William “Chris” Allen. Parks, 18, was one of two persons killed on July 4, 2016 following a vehicle collision on N. Nordic Drive.
The complaint states that Parks death was a result of Allen sustaining a seizure while driving the Parks and Rec. Dept. vehicle.
Parks, Allen, Catherine Cardenas, 19, and Marie Giesbrecht, 19, were assigned to set up rest stations for the 4-mile July 4 race that morning using the department’s van.
At approximately 7:27 a.m. Allen lost control of the van and reached speeds estimated at 52 mph. According to the complaint, Allen slumped over into the passenger area after which the van veered sharply to the right, vaulting over the guardrail and crashed upside down into an embankment. Investigating Alaska State Troopers said Allen is believed to have had a seizure, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. Molly Giesbrecht, the daughter of the Petersburg Borough Manager, was also killed in the collision.
Parks attorney states that Allen’s seizure disorder existed as far back as November 2011 while attending a technical school to become a certified electrical lineman. Allen suffered a seizure, falling off an electrical pole.
The complaint lists nine incidents where Allen suffered seizures with three events happening while he was employed with the Parks and Rec. Dept.
The complaint states that Petersburg clearly knew about Allen’s seizure disorder months prior to July 4, 2016.
Prior to his hiring at Parks & Rec. Allen applied for a job with the Petersburg Public Works Dept. and was denied hire because he could not drive because of his seizure disorder. Hagerman, according to the complaint, called the Parks & Rec. Dept. to ask why it had hired Allen since he could not drive.
The complaint concludes, “Defendants’ actions are comparable to playing Russian roulette with Molly Parks’ life. Chris Allen pulled the trigger, but Petersburg handed him the gun. It was not a matter of “if” Chris Allen would have a seizure while driving a Borough vehicle, but “when.””
The lawsuit seeks special damages, general damages, interest, Plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs, punitive damages and other relief the court deems just and equitable.
The Petersburg Borough Attorney Sara Heideman told The Pilot via email, “The Borough has not yet been served with or seen a copy of the complaint which was filed by the plaintiff’s lawyer, and the Borough will appropriately answer the suit after it has had an opportunity to review it. The Borough has cooperated fully with the investigation into this tragic accident, and will continue to do so.”
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