THE CRIMINAL CHARGES WERE DROPPED EARLIER THIS WEEK, BUT NOW THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BE SEVERAL CIVIL LAWSUITS HAS BEEN FILED IN CONNECTION WITH THAT FATAL JON-BOAT COLLISION LAST YEAR ON THE O’CONNELL SLOUGH.
A REPORT IN THE HAWK EYE…A BURLINGTON NEWSPAPER…SAYS THE PARENTS OF BLAKE EAKINS…ONE OF THE FOUR LOCAL YOUNG-PEOPLE KILLED IN THE PRE-DAWN CRASH…ARE SUING THE TWO BOAT OPERATORS…DOUG METCALF AND JOE SCHIER(SHEER) JUNIOR…CLAIMING THE TWO MEN WERE NEGLIGENT BY DRIVING THEIR BOATS WITHOUT LITES, IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. TAMMY AND LEE EAKINS…BLAKE’S PARENTS…SEEK UNSPECIFIED MONETARY DAMAGES “FOR THE LOSS OF CONSORTIUM,” THE FAMILY HAS & WILL EXPERIENCE DUE TO THE LOSS OF THEIR SON…AND THEY’VE REQUESTED A TRIAL BY JURY.
THE PUBLISHED REPORT SAYS THE DEFENDANTS HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE SUIT AND NO TRIAL DATE HAS BEEN SET.
