LOGAN – Two women are suing a corrections officer for the death of their sister.
Jenni’s Front Room and Chelsey Danyell Workman were also named as defendants in the suit.
Stevina Workman and Sandra Nelson are co-administratrices of the Estate of Clevina Ann Hackney.
On Sept. 5, Front Room sold multiple drinks of non-intoxicating beer and alcoholic liquor to Deskins, who was 28, according to a complaint filed Jan. 3 in Logan Circuit Court.
Deskins went on to operate a Ford F-150 truck with permission of Chelsey Workman in Cherry Tree and was under the influence of alcohol when he collided and killed Hackney as she was walking on the shoulder next to the roadway, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs claim Deskins then left the scene of the collision.
Deskins had a duty to exercise due care and reasonable precaution while driving and breached that duty by negligently and unlawfully driving while in an impaired state in violation of West Virginia code, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs claim Deskins was driving at a speed greater than was reasonable and prudent under existing conditions and the actual and potential hazards, in violation of West Virginia code.
Deskins collided and left the scene, knowing the collision resulted in the death of Hackney.
Front Room had a duty to exercise due care and reasonable precaution when selling beer and alcohol to Deskins and breached its duty by negligently and unlawfully selling the alcohol to Deskins when Front Room knew or should have known that Deskins was intoxicated due to the consumption of alcohol, according to the suit.
Hackney death was directly and proximately caused by the defendants, which caused her surviving child, parents and siblings to sustain sorrow, mental anguish and the loss of solace, society, companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices, advice and economic services, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages. They are being represented by Jeffrey S. Simpkins of Simpkins Law.
Hackney’s body was not discovered until Sept. 9, when water levels had gone down in the river. She had suffered from two broken legs, as well as other injuries.
Deskins was arrested and charged with hit and run resulting in death. He was a corrections officer at Southwestern Regional Jail.
Logan Circuit Court case number: 18-C-5
