Pedestrians say funeral home driver struck them with vehicle

CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County family is suing over claims they were struck by a funeral home vehicle while walking in St. Albans.

Shawn A. Shamblen, individually and as next friend on behalf of Savanah Shamblen, a minor, filed a lawsuit Sept. 25 in Kanawha Circuit Court against John Ray Curry and Curry Funeral Home Inc., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Shawn and Savanah Shamblen were walking on the sidewalk parallel to Walnut Street in St. Albans on Sept. 26, 2012, when Curry, driving in his employment with Curry Funeral Home, failed to yield right of way to the pedestrians and struck them, knocking both to the ground.

The complaint states the St. Albans Police Department investigated the incident and found the defendant to be at fault. The defendants are accused of negligence.

The Shamblens seek compensation for medical expenses, punitive damages, interest and attorney fees.

They are represented by attorney Bernard E. Layne III of Mani, Ellis & Layne in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1755