DENVER—Two high school wrestlers who lost their legs in a traffic collision have filed suit against the maker of the SUV they were using, alleging a defective design made it hard to see the vehicle and contributed to the crash.
Tyler Carron and Nikko Landeros, both 17 at the time, were changing a tire on the 1999 Isuzu Trooper the night of Jan. 19 when they were hit from behind by another vehicle. Doctors amputated both boys’ legs.
The lawsuit, filed in Denver District Court on Monday, claims the Trooper’s right rear lights and reflectors were obscured when the right-side back door was opened to retrieve the spare tire and jack.
Isuzu officials declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The teens’ attorney, Mark Davis, said the lawsuit asks for compensation for prosthetics and pain and suffering. He said the teens also want Isuzu to notify other owners of the danger they say is posed by the design.
The driver of the car that hit the teens, Michelle Berra, 18, pleaded guilty to careless driving last month and received a deferred judgment that does not require her to serve any jail time. She is required to perform public service and take driver education.
Berra, Carron and Landeros all attended Berthoud High School.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
