Lawsuit claims ambulance at fault for crash

MADISON – A Boone County couple are alleging they were harmed by people paid to help them.

The Boone County Ambulance Authority is named as a co-defendant in a personal injury suit filed by Oleta Ruth and Darrell Spurlock. In their complaint filed Nov. 26 in Boone Circuit Court, the Spurlocks, residents of Danville, allege they were sent to the hospital last year after an ambulance collided with their van.

According to the suit, about 4:30 p.m. on April 18, Darrell, 79, was driving their Dodge van on U.S. 119 near the four-way intersection at Danville Mountain. Oleta, 76, was a passenger in the front seat.

Around the same time, the suit maintains, an ambulance driven by Richard Smith, who is named as co-defendant, came through the intersection, and struck the Spurlock’s van. Though no specifics are provided where the ambulance struck the van, the suit claims it the impact was with “such great force and violence” that it “did cause serious and permanent bodily injuries to [Oleta] Spurlock.”

The extent of Oleta’s injuries are not specified in the suit. However, Spurlock maintains she has to “spend great sums of money for her medical care and attention” and has sustained both “great physical pain and mental suffering" and "a loss of enjoyment of life.”

In addition to his, the suit says Darrell has had to cope with Oleta’s injuries. This includes furnishing her with in-home nursing services.

The Spurlocks seek unspecified damages, courts costs, attorneys and interest. They are represented by Madison attorney Harry M. Hatfield.

The case is assigned to Judge William S. Thompson.