Widow blames Nabors Industries for husband's death

MORGANTOWN – A widow is suing Nabors Industries, Ltd., for the death of her husband.

Nabors Well Services Co. and Jacob Rowan Forrest were also named as defendants in the suit.

Richard F. Detamore was working for Nabors Well Services as a pipeliner and was required to travel in a Nabors company truck each day from his home in Weston to Dallas Pike for work, a distance of approximately 120 miles, and was required to leave for work at 4:30 a.m. most days and returning home as late as midnight on some occasions, according to a complaint filed Dec. 6 in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Ashley Detamore claims on July 11, her husband left Weston at 4:30 a.m. in his company truck and at home point was joined by Forrest.

Due to conflicting statements by eyewitnesses and investigators, it is unclear who was driving the truck after the two men began the ride together to work, according to the suit.

Ashley Detamore claims at approximately 6:25 a.m. between Mile Markers 158 and 159 on Interstate 79 near the Pennsylvania border, the truck suddenly veered into the median and rolled several times, ejecting both occupants.

At the time of the accident, Richard Detamore had logged nearly 38 hours of work in the previous 48 hours and it is believed Forrest had worked roughly the same amount of hours during the same time frame, according to the suit.

Ashley Detamore claims Forrest escaped with minor injuries, however, her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.

The defendants knew or should have known that working the two men up to 38 hours in the previous 48 hours and then requiring them to drive a truck several hours in the dark, early morning hours, created an unsafe working condition, which presented a high degree of risk and a strong probability of serious injury or death, according to the suit.

Ashley Detamore claims the defendants’ negligence cost Richard Detamore his life.

As a result of the defendants’ actions and the wrongful death of Richard Detamore, Ashley Detamore and their two young children suffered pain and suffering; loss of earnings; loss of household services; loss of consortium; funeral expenses; and other damages, according to the suit.

Ashley Detamore is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by David M. Grunau.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 12-C-845